Best Summertime Snacks Your Little One Will Love!

We love summer! The warm weather, vacation, and outdoor picnics and barbecues! Actually, now that we’re talking about it, summer food is the best.

With kids out of school and long summer days, there’s plenty of time to make and enjoy delicious summertime snacks. And there are so many decadent, mouth-watering options, that you can literally eat your way through every day of summer.

Now, we don’t recommend these treats all the time, but when you’re looking for a list of summertime snacks that your little one will love, we’ve got you covered.

Fruit Popsicles

When it’s hot, is there ANYTHING better than ice-cold popsicles or ice cream? We can’t think of anything. And homemade, healthy popsicles are the best. You can fill your fruit pops with anything you love for a wide variety of flavors and options. There’s everything from coconut to dragonfruit, strawberry, and more. And the recipe from Real Food by Dad is so simple.

 Ingredients:

• Bai5 Drink (flavor of your choice)
• Fresh fruit (your choice chopped)

 Recipe:

1. Chop up your favorite fruit into bite-sized pieces. Feel free to mix and match your fruit.
2. In a popsicle mold, fill half full with Bai5 and then add in your pieces of fruit. Fill up the rest of the way with more Bai5.
3. Freeze overnight and then enjoy!

 Snack Mix

We’re always on the go in the summer. There’s so much to do and see. When we need a summertime snack that can come with us on any trip, we grab our favorite Parmesan Ranch Cheez-it Snack Mix. This recipe by Delightful E Made is both easy and delicious. If you’re looking for something crunchy, savory, and irresistible look no further.

 Ingredients:

• 1 cup Cheez-it Crackers
• 1 cup Cheddar Ranch crackers
• 1 cup pretzels
• 1 cup corn/rice cereal
• 1 cup cashews.
• 1 cup melted butter
• 1 ranch seasoning package
• Worcestershire sauce (to taste)
• Grated parmesan cheese

 Recipe:

1. In a large crock-pot, mix together all of the dry ingredients.
2. In a separate bowl, melt the butter and add the ranch seasoning and Worcestershire sauce to taste. Mix well.
3. Pour butter mixture over dry ingredients and mix well.
4. Roast the mixture in the crock-pot, stirring occasionally, until toasted brown.
5. Add grated parmesan cheese and enjoy.

 No-Bake Trail Mix Granola Bars

Kids love granola bars, but pre-bought store varieties can be packed full of sugar and ingredient that you don’t want them to indulge in. The good news is that Live Simply has a homemade No-Bake Trail Mix Granola Bar recipe that’s delicious, easy to make, and good for you. It’s a salty, crunchy, and chewy mix that you and your kids will love to eat all summer long.

 Ingredients:

• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup puffed brown rice cereal
• ½ cup unsalted chopped almonds
• ½ cup roasted and unsalted pumpkin seeds
• pinch salt
• 1 cup dates, pitted
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1 TB pure vanilla extract

 Recipe:

1. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients and mix well. Add the pinch of salt.
2. In a food processor, slow pulse the dates until they are chopped into small pieces.
3. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the honey and peanut butter, stirring until smooth.
4. Turn off the heat and add the vanilla extract. Stir.
5. Pour honey and peanut butter mixture over dry ingredients and mix well until everything is covered.
6. Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper and then press the granola into the pan until it’s even and packed tightly.
7. Freeze the granola for 30 minutes and cut into bars.
8. Keep frozen until you are ready to enjoy.

Yogurt & Fruit Parfaits

Another great idea for a hot summer day is a simple Yogurt and Fruit Parfait. This recipe by Rachel Ray is so easy you can make it in just a few minutes, and so delicious that your kids will ask for seconds and thirds. Don’t just take our word for it; give it a shot yourself.

 Ingredients:

• 3 cups vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup fresh strawberries
• 1 pint fresh blackberries, raspberries, or blueberries
• 1 cup good quality granola

Recipe:

• In four bowls or tall glasses, layer 1/3-cup yogurt at the bottom.
• Combine strawberries and fresh berries.
• Alternate layers of fruit, granola, and yogurt until the glasses or bowls are filled.
• Indulge!

Other Ideas

There are too many favorite summertime snacks to list them all, but here are a few other recipes you can try from mom and dad bloggers around the world.

• 5-Minute Hummus by Dad with a Pan. Perfect veggies, crackers, and more.
• Poolside Dip by The Seasoned Mom. Your little ones will love this dip with fresh fruit.
• Nutella Granola by Sunny Side Ups. Can it get any better than granola, Nutella, hazelnuts, and olive oil? Nope.
• Watermelon Pizza by Food Folks and Fun. This colorful fruit explosion is beautiful and delicious.
• Healthy Fruit Snacks by A Side of Sweet. Make your own fruit gummies in all shapes and sizes.