Looking for some quick and healthy summer snack options to keep your child well-fueled for their fun in the sun?

          Summer is a great time to experiment with different fruits & veggies because there are so many in season! Here are some of our favorite recipes from around the web that make real, nutritious food creative & fun in order to help growing children develop healthy habits for life…

Snacking is fun, and eating healthy doesn’t have to mean skipping out on snacks. Just do your best to keep your snacks clean and healthy. And it’s pretty easy to jazz up a rice cracker with all the best toppings to make it personal, and really good too!

Rice cake topping ideas:

-natural peanut butter                       -slices of strawberries

-raisins                                                  -drizzle of honey

-smashed banana                               -tahini

-shredded coconut                             -cacao nibs

-goji berries                                          -hemp seeds

Find the full recipe at

http://ohdeardreablog.com/2017/06/vegan-healthy-snack.html

Summer is here, which means raspberry season is too! Fresh raspberries are the perfect snack for little fingers, and we made them extra special by filling them with frozen yogurt. These frozen yogurt raspberries are so simple anyone can make them! Kids love them and feel like they’re a treat.

All you will need is:

– yogurt

-a pastry bag or Ziploc with the corner cut off, and some

-fresh raspberries.  

Find the full recipe at

http://www.superhealthykids.com/homemade-fruit-snack-frozen-yogurt-raspberries/

If you ask any kid, snacks should be fun , yummy, and portable. And if they can help make them, all the better! These fruit necklaces fit the bill all around. As fun snacks for children go, they are pretty great! Plus they are healthy, which makes everyone happy. Kids can string their own fruit necklace snack with fresh fruit “beads” and drape them around their necks to eat!

Materials:

-elastic cord

-yarn needle

-fresh fruit and berries

Find the full recipe at

http://artfulparent.com/2012/07/fruit-necklace-fun-snack-for-kids.html

This is a great recipe for using up any ripe bananas you may have on your counter, and any berries in your freezer. They’re quick and easy to make, and they’re healthy too. Loaded with banana flavour, summer berries and wholesome ingredients.  Bonus, they’re delicious and kids love them!

Ingredients:

-oats                                                     -wheat germ

-blueberries or raspberries               -flour

-mashed bananas                              -baking powder

-eggs                                                    -baking soda

-cinnamon                                           -salt

-butter                                                   -sugar

-vanilla

Find the full recipe at

https://www.aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com/banana-berry-bombs/

Have you ever seen anything more adorable than these pizza kebabs? This is one of the easiest snacks you’ll ever make. All it takes is a pita pocket, some pepperoni, mozzarella and an olive. Want to get more creative? Go right ahead, these are completely customizable! Kids really love picking & choosing their favorite toppings to put on. The great thing about these is how quickly they come together, and you can enjoy these cold or heated.

Ingredients & topping ideas:

-whole wheat pita pocket                  -pepperoni

-pizza sauce                                        -cubes of fresh mozzarella

-fresh veggies of choice

Find the full recipe at

http://www.superhealthykids.com/pizza-kebabs/

Rich, decadent chocolate pudding made with a healthy secret ingredient~ AVOCADOS! A sneaky way to get kids to eat healthy. This is a great way to get your kids to eat (and enjoy) one of the best superfoods with incredible health benefits. The best part is that they have no idea that they ate an avocado because it was ever so deliciously disguised as creamy chocolate pudding!

You will need:

-avocados                                           -pure maple syrup

-bananas                                             -vanilla extract

-unsweetened almond milk              -cocoa powder

Find the full recipe at

https://livelearnloveeat.com/2012/01/14/creamy-chocolate-pudding/

Does your child love cars, trains and anything with wheels on them.? If so, these adorable car themed snacks to keep them interested in finishing their food and eating a healthy snack. These make such fun and interactive snacks are so easy to put together with only toothpicks, and are perfect for playdates or parties!

Learn how to make:

-the Granola Car

-Carrot Car

-Strawberry Banana Car

-Cheese Stick Car

-Orange and Apple Car

Find the full recipes and ingredient list at

http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/THE-CUTEST-AND-EASIEST-CAR-FOOD-SNACKS-FOR-KIDS

It’s high zucchini season, which means that it’s time for delicious zucchini fritter muffins! They are satisfying yet light, so they make for a wonderful late summer snack or even a quick meal. And since they are baked in a muffin tin they are so easy for little hands to pick up & hold~  a perfect toddler food. Each fritter has some protein from the egg and cheese, calcium from the cheese, and a toddler-size serving of vegetables. These are so yummy!

Ingredients:

-zucchini                                             -gluten-free flour blend or whole-wheat flour

– egg                                                    -cheddar cheese

-cumin                                                 -salt

Find the full recipe at

http://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/blog/zucchini-fritter-muffins

Edible crafts are so much fun. Especially when they are this colorful! This is a great craft to do with your kids to teach them about eating all the different colors and why fruits and vegetables are important to keep our bodies healthy.

Suggested  ingredient list (but you could use any vegetables or fruit that you want):

-cherry tomatoes                            -carrots

-yellow peppers                             -broccoli

-purple cabbage

Find the full recipe at

https://livelearnloveeat.com/2011/08/05/edible-craft-eat-the-rainbow/

Kids find veggies a lot more enticing when dipped in creamy ranch. The bottled stuff can contain preservatives and other artificial ingredients, though, so making an at-home version is a great option for snacking on the creamy dip without any junk. With just a few minutes and minimal ingredients you can whip up a batch of 5-Minute Homemade Ranch anytime. Perfect for dipping, this easy recipes makes snacking on veggies fun and super easy! Homemade ranch goes with just about everything, and we like it best with a big platter of raw veggies.

Ingredients:

-plain Greek yogurt                            -cider vinegar

-garlic powder                                    -salt

-dill weed                                            -onion powder

Find the full recipe at

http://www.superhealthykids.com/5-minute-homemade-ranch/

12 CREATIVE WAYS TO DEAL WITH PICKY EATERS

http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/12-CREATIVE-WAYS-TO-DEAL-WITH-PICKY-EATERS

GREAT TIPS FOR PREPPING HEALTHY SNACKS TO HAVE READY FOR YOUR KIDS

http://www.superhealthykids.com/having-snacks-ready/

14 KIDS BOOKS THAT ENCOURAGE HEALTHY EATING

http://www.mothermag.com/kids-books-about-food/

8 SIMPLE WAYS TO RAISE A VEGGIE-LOVING KID

http://www.mothermag.com/how-to-get-kids-to-eat-vegetables/

HOW TO GET KIDS IN THE KITCHEN

http://www.mothermag.com/kids-in-the-kitchen/

FAVORITE HEALTHY FATS FOR TODDLERS (And Why They Need Them)

http://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/blog/toddlers-and-fat

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