Today were are going to share some easy, healthy, and fun summer snacks that your kids will love to make and to eat! Yesterday I talked about making a healthy snack fun by turning it into something creative.
I used a simple example of fruit and a celery stalk that were turned into a flower and mentioned that the possibilities were endless. Today I am going to share with you some of the possibilities that are already out there! Most of these only require 1-5 ingredients and just a little bit of time.
As a meal planning mommy I would like to offer one little suggestion: Plan your snacks. 🙂
At the beginning of each summer I write out lots of things that I want to do with our kids from activities, to memory verses, to chores around the house. Then I get out out calendar and put the activities I want to do on the calendar so I know we will do them. Try to pick out a few snacks you think your children will enjoy and then write them on a calendar where your kids can see. They will enjoy the anticipation of waiting to find out what “fruit race cars” or “Lion King lunch” are. Once you have put them on the calendar make sure to add the necessary ingredients to your grocery list each week! These snack ideas are also great on a rainy day when everyone feels cooped up inside. Here are our 25 creative, clever, fun, and healthy snacks you can do with your kids this summer:
1. Fruit Race Cars.
Fruit Race cars from Ehow. I love the simplicity of this one. Two ingredients and a couple of toothpicks is all this one takes. Ask kids to be your “pit crew” and see who can get their tires on first! Quickest one gets to eat theirs first. 😉
2. Eggo Garden.
Eggo Garden from Eggo. This adorable breakfast is perfect for a day when you have a little bit more time to eat in the morning. Wouldn’t this be a fun breakfast to wake up to?
3. Watermelon Pop Stars.
Watermelon Pop Stars originally from Family Fun. Now posted here. It doesn’t get much easier than this. Cut slices of watermelon and give your kids a cookie cutter and a Popsicle stick so they can make their own.
4. Mini Aquariums.
Mini Aquariums from Family Fun’s Treat of the Month. Kids will have a blast creating their own little aquarium for their goldfish. These little snacks are put together with rice cakes, cream cheese, and fresh veggies.
5. Cheep Eats.
Cheep Cheep Chickie’s from Parents.com. This cute little Chick is made entirely from fruit.
6. One Sweet Bee.
One sweet bee from Canadian Family. Seriously, does it get any cuter than this!? I don’t think so.
7. Fruit Bouquet.
Fruit Banquet from Meal Planning Mommies. Skewers hold these fruit flowers into a bed of lettuce. Pop off a skewer let your kids munch away.
8. Lion King Lunch.
Lion King Lunch by Creative Kids Snacks. Serve this after watching the Lion King movie and your kids will think you are the coolest! 🙂
9. Yogurt Bites
These yogurt bites from Meal Planning Mommies are made with one ingredient…yogurt. Another twist on this snack that is popular to is to use blueberries as well. Click here for more details.
10. DIY Animal Crackers
These bite size cookies on Meal Planning Mommies are a spin off from traditional animal crackers. Use whatever cookie cutters you like to fit whatever theme you like.
11. Veggie Palm Tree
Will you be going on a trip to Florida anytime soon? This simple snack from Meal Planning Mommies is a great one to get the kids excited about the palm trees they are going to see on their vacation!
12. Butterfly Snack.
This is a simple snack from Kids Activities for kids who love butterflies. Easy peasy.
13. Fruit and Sandwich Kabobs.
This lunch (or snack) idea originally from the Family Fun magazine and now here uses an uncooked spaghetti noodle in place of a skewer. Put whatever healthy foods you like on the “skewer” and it becomes a fun snack to eat!
14. Healthy Train Snack.
Healthy Train Snack from In the Playroom. If your kids are really into trains then you (and they) are going to love this one. Chugga chugga Toot Toot!
15. Tortoise and the Pear.
Tortoise and the Pear from “FamilyFun’s Treat of the month” on Parents.com. Another snack that you only need a couple of ingredients for, and it’s easy enough that you kid(s) can put it together themselves.
16. Mane event.
Mane event. This is one more of FamilyFun magazines cute snack ideas. You can find this one on Parents.com. This is a seriously adorable way to serve up a pancake!
17. Veggie People.
Veggie People from Answers.com. Don’t you love this clever way to serve veggies and dip? If you can’t get your kids to eat veggies give these guys a try. They just scream “EAT ME!”
18. Rocket Ship Sandwich.
Rocket Ship sandwich from Ziggity Zoom. There are lots of other cute and fun ideas on the Ziggity Zoom website that will help spark kid’s imaginations, including a “double dip ice cream cone sandwich” that uses bread and veggies.
19. Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Baked Tortilla Stars from Meal Planning Mommies. Flour tortillas cut with a cookie cutter and baked in the oven make this a fun crunchy snack that can replace chips.
20. 25 Popcorn Recipes.
Do your kids like popcorn? How about changing up your popcorn with some of these fun recipes from Reason to Skip the Housework.
21. DIY Goldfish crackers.
Make your own homemade goldfish crackers using this recipe at STL Cooks. All of my kids either like goldfish now or they went through a phase when they did like them. This just seems like a snack that you can get any child to eat. Now you can make this finger food in your own kitchen!
22. Robot snacks.
These cute little robot snacks come from Canadian Basics. This is a fun snack to share with a big group. Your kids will be so proud to show these off to their friends.
23. Scarecrow Veggie Tray.
Scarecrow Veggie Tray from Living Locurto. Okay, so scarecrows aren’t really a summer thing but I just loved the silly cucumber eyes and wacky “hair”. This is just too cute not to share.
24. 101 Finger Foods.
101 Finger Foods for Babies and Toddlers from Mother’s Niche. I thought this was worthy of posting because many moms of littles want this question answered: “What easy and healthy snacks can I feed my toddler?” and sometimes you just want to grab a quick snack for your kids and not have to do any extra work. Put a few of these snacks in ziploc snack bags and you can hand one to your child the next time they start getting fussy because they are hungry!
25. Raccoon Snack.
Raccoon Snack by Super Healthy Kids. This snack idea is the grand finale of this post! We are ending with a BANG here. Most of these snacks have been intentionally easy (because us moms like easy) but on a day when you are ready to go all out this one is for you. This little raccoon guy is cute and healthy. Gobble him right up!
For 5 easy, tasty and healthy dessert ideas your kids will love this summer go here.
