Need some simple summer snacks for kids? Summer time is a time for playing outside, enjoying the sunshine, and spending afternoons by the pool. I find that when doing any of these activities, I end up hungry and thirsty faster than usual.
My child has always been a fussier than usual eater so I’ve had to really incorporate him in the process of making the snack in order to get the buy in to eat the snack. Here is a breakdown of our favorite simple summer snacks for kids.
3 Simple Summer Snacks for Kids
1. Apple Juice Popsicles
Apple juice is always a winning beverage in our home and sometimes after playing outside in the hot sun, my child likes to have cold apple juice. So we got creative one day and bought an ice cube tray that has small ice cube openings, made of silicone to better pop out the popsicles when they are done. We even have a system of how we create these as a team.
To make apple juice popsicles, I pour some of the apple juice in an oil dispenser with a spout so it’s easier for small hands. I hand the apple juice filled oil dispenser to my child and with assistance, have them pour the juice 3/4 of the way into the ice cube tray. Afterwards, we diagonally place pre-cut straws that are about the length of my pinky into each of the cube sections of the ice cube tray. Then we hold the ice cube tray together and place it in the freezer overnight. The next day, they are always excited to hold onto the straw while they take a break from their outdoor activities. The popsicles don’t last too long in the heat so I recommend having something to wipe down around your child as they eat their snack.
2. Green Apples and Salt
This snack was a personal favorite growing up. Green Apples are sour and tart. They have a crunch to it that is quickly followed by the puckering of lips. I always find it so adorable watching my child make that face when eating these apples. Unfortunately, my child is not phased by apple slices anymore so to make things more interesting and in an effort to get them to snack in a healthy way during summer we have gotten slightly more creative.
For this snack, I slice the apples long ways so they make big ovals. Then I give my child a small cookie cutter from maybe thanksgiving time and the sliced apple. He creates a new shape into the apple using the cookie cutter. The current favorite is the star shape. When all the apple slices have been re-designed, I sprinkle a bit of salt, and squeeze a lemon wedge over the apples. This gives them an added layer of freshness for summertime. For this snack, you could also add yogurt or peanut butter for protein.
3. Watermelon with Cheese
This snack is a family favorite and is always asked for when coming home from a pool afternoon. All you need is a watermelon and a salty cheese, we tend to favor Haloumi cheese. I slice the watermelon in wedges or squares. The way I cut it really depends on my child’s age for easy and safe consumption. I slice the cheese in rectangles and give my child the cookie cutter (from the above mentioned snack) to make their desired shape into the cheese.
Here comes the fun part, I watch my child put a slice of watermelon and cheese into his mouth at the same time and enjoy the salty and sweet flavors of summer. This can be an adult snack too if you want, no cookie cutter needed. Just slice the watermelon, layer in slices of Haloumi cheese, squirt some honey over the two, grab a fork and enjoy!
I hope your summer days are sunny and you stay fueled up on these simple summer snacks for kids.
