What’s your favorite memory of summer growing up? Maybe it was exploring the aquarium with your grandparents or playing hide-and-seek in your best friend’s backyard. Perhaps it was vacationing at the beach or going on a family picnic. Regardless of where your favorite memory is, good food was likely involved. Now that you’re a parent, you get to create fun moments for your kids to remember. Whether you go for a walk at Cherokee Park or spend the day at Kentucky Kingdom, you’ll need snacks to keep your kids going. Here are seven (7) kid-friendly snacks for hot summer days to sustain your kids until the cooler weather returns.
Nothing says summer like watermelon. This delicious fruit is infused with vitamin C, potassium, copper and vitamin A, but it tastes sweet, like a dessert. Watermelon contains 92% water, so it keeps you hydrated and safe from overheating in hot summer weather.
Make watermelon popsicles by pureeing chunked watermelon in a blender and adding a splash of lime juice. You can also add mint leaves or coconut milk or layer another fruit inside the mold for variations of this recipe. Put this mixture in a popsicle mold and freeze until solid.
Fruit nachos are a fun way to get more fruit and protein into your child’s summer diet. This snack idea can be adapted per your fruit and topping preferences, and you can make it more or less healthy by monitoring how much processed sugar is in your particular toppings. Your kids are going to love this one!
Cut thin apple slices and arrange them in a circular pattern on a large plate. Add blueberries, sliced strawberries and kiwi on top. You can also add bananas or any other fruit that sounds good. Finally, drizzle the platter with peanut butter and yogurt.
This frozen yogurt recipe takes only two ingredients and is the perfect base for creating any flavor you like. Combine 2 cups of yogurt with ¼ cup of sweetener – your options include sugar, maple syrup, honey or erythritol. You can make this with an ice cream machine or freeze it in an ice cube tray and then blend it for creaminess.
Make it chocolate-flavored by adding ½ cup of cocoa powder, a dash of vanilla and a tad more sweetener. You can create peanut butter frozen yogurt by adding ½ cup of peanut butter. Add coconut extract and top it with coconut flakes for a summery coconut flavor. The possibilities are endless.
These DIY necklaces are a fun way to get your kids involved in creating their own summer snacks. Buy a coil of string and cut it into the right length for long necklaces. Next, collect different snacks with holes in them. Options include chocolate-covered pretzels, Cheerios, Froot Loops, and small cookies.
Let your kids string the snacks they want onto the necklace and then help them tie it on. They can snack on them while they run around and play. To create a healthier option, use a needle to string popcorn, grapes, blueberries, and even carrots onto their necklaces. Make sure their clothes are washable before they put them on.
This snack is a great way to get more protein into your child’s diet. It’s also very adaptable depending on your preferences — add chocolate, peanut butter chips, pretzels and various fruits to taste. You can also vary the yogurt flavor you use as a base for this delicious summer snack.
To make yogurt bark, combine 3 cups of yogurt with ¼ cup of maple syrup or honey and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and evenly spread the yogurt mixture over it. Add whatever toppings you like. Freeze for around three hours and cut or break the bark into pieces. Serve quickly before it melts.
Energy balls are packed with protein and healthy fats so you and your kids can keep going all day. To make this recipe, combine 2 cups of oats with 1 cup of peanut butter and ½ cup honey. Then, mix in your toppings of choice. Options include chocolate chips, coconut flakes, nuts and dried fruit.
Use a 1 tablespoon measure, your hands or a small ice cream scoop to form the mixture into small balls. You can store these long term in the freezer or keep them in the fridge to help them stay firm. Don’t expect them to last too long — this is a snack your kids won’t be able to stay away from! You can experiment with different nut butters if peanut butter isn’t your thing.
These kid-friendly granola bars combine oats, almonds, honey, brown sugar and butter to create a delicious, nutritious snack. Top them with cranberries and chocolate chips or other ingredients for fun variations. Options include different nuts, sea salt, dried cherries and more. Try not to skimp on the sweetener, as it helps hold the bars together.
The directions call for you to toast the oats and almonds before mixing to get a granola crunch in the bars. Once mixed, press the bars into a pan and then refrigerate for around two hours. This summer treat is incredibly filling and tastes so good your family won’t believe it has healthy ingredients.
Feed Your Kids With These Healthy, Fun Snacks
Summer means more outdoor activity, so your children’s appetites may grow exponentially. Be prepared to feed your hungry family with these seven (7) fun kid-friendly snacks as you explore more of Kentucky this summer.
 kid-friendly snacks for hot summer days to sustain your kids until the cooler weather returns.){kind=link}