Summer is my time to break out of my cooking rut and try something new. My kids love trying new recipes too-especially ‘kid-friendly’ options. I love making them fun, festive food that is healthy too! Here are four healthy (and easy!) summer treats your kids will love!
Strawberry Fruit Leather
This is a healthy alternative to Fruit-Roll Ups and store-bought fruit leather.
Ingredients:
3 C. Strawberries, hulled
2 Tbsp. honey (optional)
Directions:
Blend strawberries in a food processor or high-powered blender.
Add the optional honey and blend until combined.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat and pour puree onto pan. Spread evenly.
Bake puree in the oven at 175oF for 6-7 hours. It should feel sticky, but dried.
Cool. Turn out onto a cutting board. If using parchment paper, roll and paper and the leather together into a log. Use kitchen shears, cut into one-inch pieces. If using a silicon mat. Peel off mat, roll leather, and cut into pieces.
Store in an airtight container.
Enjoy a few other fruit leather recipes!
Banana Swirl
If you are familiar with Daniel Tiger, this is one of his favorite treats. It is the easiest recipe and your kids will love this frozen snack!
Ingredients:
3-4 ripe (peel and cut into inch-pieces before freezing)
Optional add-in: Nutella, chopped, frozen, strawberries, cinnamon, chocolate chips
Directions:
Blend frozen banana pieces in a small food processor or high-powered blender.
The pieces will start to look ‘crumbly’. Scrape the sides with a spatula and keep blending!
Keep blending! It will then start looking like oatmeal. Scrape the sides and blend some more.
If adding-in optional ingredients, add at the end, a pulse a few times.
No-Bake Energy Balls
These are the perfect on-the-go snack! Keep in the refrigerator, and grab them when you’re running your kids to all of their summer activities.
Ingredients:
1 C oatmeal
¾ C unsweetened shredded coconut
½ peanut butter or other nut butter
¼-1/3 C honey (just enough to have the balls stick together)
½ C ground flax seed (flax seed meal)
1 Tbsp. chia seeds
1/3 C mini-chocolate chips
Directions:
Process oats in a food processor (this is optional- I didn’t process the oats and they were fine).
Combine all ingredients in mixer or large bowl. Mix until combined.
Form mixture into small balls. Store in refrigerator up to one week.
Veggie Nachos
My four-year old loves these veggie “nachos.” I let him choose different toppings and he eats these up!
Ingredients:
3 bell peppers (I like doing a combo of colors), seeded and cut into triangles (like chips!)
¼ C Greek yogurt or sour cream
1 tsp lime juice
1 tsp taco seasoning (optional)
1 English cucumber, diced
½ c cherry tomatoes, quartered
½ avocado, diced
3 Tbs Mexican blend cheese
Directions:
Arrange pepper “chips” on a plate.
Whisk yogurt, lime juice, and taco seasoning together.
Drizzle yogurt sauce on chips
Top with diced veggies and sprinkle cheese!
I hope you and your kids enjoy these simple and satisfying summer snacks!
What are your favorite snacks for the summer?
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