School’s out and the kids are home for the summer, which means it’s time to stock up on snacks. I find that when my kids are home, they always are looking for something to eat. Instead of filling the pantry with potato chips and the fridge with soda pop, consider some of the following options for healthy summer snacks (and the best part is, you don’t need to turn on the oven!):
Veggie tray – Chop up a variety of vegetables and place in various bowls or in a sectioned dish. Place the veggie tray in a spot where the kids spend a lot of time – perhaps in the kitchen on the table or counter top. You also could set it on the family room coffee table. My kids eat a lot more vegetables when I put them out for snacking than when they are a side dish for dinner.
Juice pops – Get some popsicle molds and fill them with 100% juice. You also could make your own fruit slush popcicles by blending some frozen fruit with a little bit of liquid. Then freeze the mixture into popcicles. It’s a lot healthier than the ones you buy at the grocery store!
Popcorn– You don’t need potato chips to satisfy the need for something to crunch on. Pop some popcorn in an air popper (hold the butter!) and eat it plain, or with a splash of healthy oil, such as olive oil or melted coconut oil, and add a sprinkle of your favorite seasonings. I like to add olive oil with salt, pepper, chili powder, and garlic powder.
Fruit – Eating fruit is a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth. Set out a large bowl with a variety of fruits. You could try bananas, apples, kiwis, and pears. Also, you could fill a bowl with chopped melons with a box of toothpicks nearby for easy snacking.