Summertime is quickly approaching and with that comes the end of school or daycare if your children are not in programs over the summer. When your children are at home and not in school or daycare, they can have a lot of extra energy. With that energy may come more requests for something to eat. The question is, what snacks can you give them that are healthy.
Since many kids fall short in getting enough fruits and veggies, this makes a great start to your snack menu. Getting your child involved in choosing fruits and at home or in the grocery store can make snacks more appealing to them. Having them give you a hand in the kitchen can also pique their interest when it comes to their own snacks.
There are many benefits to having your children help in the kitchen. Children are very hands-on when it comes to learning. They love to touch, taste and smell and the kitchen is a great place to do all of those things. Having them help in the kitchen teaches them basic skills, it generates a curiosity for their food and it gives them a sense of importance by assisting their parents or caregivers.
Here are six easy and fun summer snack recipes to keep your kids fueled during those long summer days.
3 Summer Skewers to Make with Kids
1. Fresh Fruit Kabobs
Ask kids that are old enough to safely use a knife to cut pieces of apricot, peaches, plums, mangos, melon or other whole fruit such as strawberries or grapes. For younger children – help them use a knife or provide a bowl of diced fruit to skewer. Set out wooden or metal skewers and let them assemble.
2. Sandwich Stacks
Slice cucumbers in rounds, slice Swiss or cheddar cheese and sandwich bread into square sizes similar in size to the cucumber wedge. Provide kids with wooden or metal skewers and let them assemble.
3. Tortellini tomato skewers
Skewer cherry/grape tomatoes with mini bocconcini cheese balls and cooked tortellini on wooden or metal skewers and brush with pesto.
3 Nutritious Popsicles to Make with Kids
1. Creamy Crave
Blend fresh berries or mango and vanilla yogurt in a food processor or blender along with a bit of milk or unsweetened juice (just enough so the mixture blends). Pour into popsicle moulds and freeze.
2. Pina Colada
Blend fresh, frozen or canned unsweetened pineapple with coconut milk and a sprinkle of shredded coconut in a food processor or blender. Pour into popsicle moulds and freeze.
3. Just Fruit
Insert a popsicle stick on a wedge of watermelon, cantaloupe or melon and serve as is. Alternatively, skewer grapes or blueberries on a wooden skewer to create a caterpillar (use cream cheese to stick on mini chocolate chips or raisins for eyes) and serve either fresh or frozen.
Allowing kids to help in the kitchen keeps them engaged and learning important culinary skills for life. Keeping their minds working when they are not in school or daycare can be difficult but having them make their own snacks or lend a hand in the kitchen allows them to become interested in new things.
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