Summer’s here, and that means lots of on-the-go outdoor activities to look forward to. And my kids love it, but they are constantly hungry because they are burning so much energy. I’m always looking for healthy snacks because the thought of them eating potato chips all day every day makes me cringe.
I’m also trying to keep processed sugars and starches out of their diet as much as possible. So these snacks are perfect!
If Your Kids Like Chips and Dip…
Let them dip! But how about dipping veggies in low-cal ranch dressing or maybe fruit in fat-free whipped topping?
Or if you want to get really fancy, you can make your own dip – a veggie cream cheese dip. Pick up a tub of your favorite plain whipped cream cheese (fat free) and add some finely diced green onions, red bell peppers, carrots and or any other combo you can come up with!
If Your Kids Like Ice Cream or Popsicles…
Why not make your own ice cream or popsicles at home?
Still looking for another frozen treat? Try this…my kids love it. Wash and dry fresh strawberries (or any berries really) or grapes. Then put them in a freezer safe container in the freezer for a few hours. They taste like frozen candy!
Bonus: you can use the berries as “ice cubes” in water or other drinks!
If Your Kids Like Nuggets and Fries…
How about making a more healthy alternative? Grab a package of chicken tenderloins from the store and dip them in 1 beaten egg mixed with 2 teaspoons of water. Put them in a ziplock bag with some seasoned bread crumbs, salt and pepper and shake (it’s homemade Shake n’ Bake!). Take them out and place them on a baking sheet sprayed with some non-stick spray and bake at 375 degrees for about 15-17 minutes (turn them over once halfway through the cooking time).
As for the fries? How about baked instead of fried? Quarter a couple of potatoes, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes. The kids will love them!
Just about any treat can be made healthy if you give it some thought. Just using baked potato chips instead of the regular ones will make a difference. Try serving with hummus or guacamole instead of ranch dip.
Dehydrated fruits can taste a lot like candy because they are so sweet…my kids love them!
Water is very important in the summertime, so by adding frozen fruit in as ice cubes, my kids don’t mind drinking it.
There are so many summer snack ideas out there! What are your kids’ favorite treats? Got a recipe or idea that you would like to share? I’m all ears!
