I don't usually post about food (my lack of culinary skills may be behind that!) but this guest post from Whitney Hollingshead is right up my alley - simple, tasty snacks that kids will love!
Summer is here. No school probably means your kids are at home during the day and most likely begging you frequently for snacks. If you are sick of stocking up on prepackaged snacks that disappear as soon as you bring them home, consider some of these fun snack ideas instead. These snacks are easy to make, healthy, and incredibly tasty:
1. Snack Mix
Ingredients (choose from) :
Cereal (any variety) Granola
Bite size crackers (any variety) Raisins
Craisins Dried fruit
Peanuts (shelled) Almonds
Cashews Pretzel bites
Popcorn (air popped) M&Ms
Chocolate chips Butterscotch chips
Peanut butter chips Mini marshmallows
Coconut (shredded)
Cereal (any variety) Granola
Bite size crackers (any variety) Raisins
Craisins Dried fruit
Peanuts (shelled) Almonds
Cashews Pretzel bites
Popcorn (air popped) M&Ms
Chocolate chips Butterscotch chips
Peanut butter chips Mini marshmallows
Coconut (shredded)
Instructions
Grab a gallon size Ziploc bag. Fill the bag with a combination of any of the ingredients listed above. Shake the bag to make the mix. Label the bag with a fun name for your own special mix. Repeat weekly with different ingredients. Get your kids involved in the fun by letting them make their own mix!
Grab a gallon size Ziploc bag. Fill the bag with a combination of any of the ingredients listed above. Shake the bag to make the mix. Label the bag with a fun name for your own special mix. Repeat weekly with different ingredients. Get your kids involved in the fun by letting them make their own mix!
2. Mini Mozzarella Bread
Ingredients
Frozen roll dough (let dough thaw, but don’t let it rise)
Butter or margarine (softened)
Garlic salt
Parsley flakes
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Frozen roll dough (let dough thaw, but don’t let it rise)
Butter or margarine (softened)
Garlic salt
Parsley flakes
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450. Roll out thawed roll dough to create flat circles. Transfer the circles to a greased cookie sheet. Spread a thin layer of butter on each circle. Sprinkle with garlic salt and then mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle the top with parsley flakes. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until cheese starts to bubble and turn a golden brown.
*For extra fun, consider dipping the bread in any pasta sauce of your choice.
Preheat oven to 450. Roll out thawed roll dough to create flat circles. Transfer the circles to a greased cookie sheet. Spread a thin layer of butter on each circle. Sprinkle with garlic salt and then mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle the top with parsley flakes. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until cheese starts to bubble and turn a golden brown.
*For extra fun, consider dipping the bread in any pasta sauce of your choice.
3. Yogurt or Pudding Parfaits
Instructions
Create your own classic combination. Grab some clear glasses or cups. Mason jars work great too! Start by spooning your yogurt or pudding of choice on the bottom layer. Next add your chosen fruit for the next layer. If you want to use cookies, granola, and/or peanut butter, add those layers next. Start over with the first layer and continue until your container is full. Top with whipped cream if desired. To turn your snack into a dessert, include brownie pieces, cake pieces, or crushed up candy bars in your layers.
Create your own classic combination. Grab some clear glasses or cups. Mason jars work great too! Start by spooning your yogurt or pudding of choice on the bottom layer. Next add your chosen fruit for the next layer. If you want to use cookies, granola, and/or peanut butter, add those layers next. Start over with the first layer and continue until your container is full. Top with whipped cream if desired. To turn your snack into a dessert, include brownie pieces, cake pieces, or crushed up candy bars in your layers.
4. Veggie Dip
Ingredients
Yogurt or pudding (any flavor)
Fresh or frozen berries or any sliced fruit
Crushed cookies (Oreos, sugar wafers, Nilla wafers, golden oreos, chocolate chip)
Granola
Peanut butter (crunchy or smooth)
Whipped cream (if desired)
Yogurt or pudding (any flavor)
Fresh or frozen berries or any sliced fruit
Crushed cookies (Oreos, sugar wafers, Nilla wafers, golden oreos, chocolate chip)
Granola
Peanut butter (crunchy or smooth)
Whipped cream (if desired)
Ingredients
Cottage cheese (low-fat)
Dry salad dressing mix of any flavor, dry onion soup mix, or spice packet of choice
Cut veggies of choice
Crackers (if desired)
Cottage cheese (low-fat)
Dry salad dressing mix of any flavor, dry onion soup mix, or spice packet of choice
Cut veggies of choice
Crackers (if desired)
Instructions
Combine half of the dry seasoning packet with the cottage cheese. Sample the dip and add the remaining half of the packet if you desire more flavor. Grab your veggies and crackers and enjoy this healthy snack!
Combine half of the dry seasoning packet with the cottage cheese. Sample the dip and add the remaining half of the packet if you desire more flavor. Grab your veggies and crackers and enjoy this healthy snack!
Super Simple No-Prep Snacks
*Freeze yogurt tubes
*Spread graham crackers with cream cheese and top with your favorite jam
*Sprinkle cinnamon on cut fruit
*Freeze grapes
*Cut cheese or fresh fruit with cookie cutters
*Slice bananas and drizzle them with chocolate syrup
*Stock the fridge with hard boiled eggs
*Top cottage cheese with fresh or canned fruit
*Roll lunch meat and cheese up in a tortilla
*Mix canned chicken with barbecue sauce. Warm through and spread on bread.
*Spread graham crackers with cream cheese and top with your favorite jam
*Sprinkle cinnamon on cut fruit
*Freeze grapes
*Cut cheese or fresh fruit with cookie cutters
*Slice bananas and drizzle them with chocolate syrup
*Stock the fridge with hard boiled eggs
*Top cottage cheese with fresh or canned fruit
*Roll lunch meat and cheese up in a tortilla
*Mix canned chicken with barbecue sauce. Warm through and spread on bread.
The last thing you want during the summer (or any time!) is to have a family member get sick. Food-borne illness is especially common in the summer as bacteria and other harmful substances grow quickly in the heat.
1. Any food containing dairy, meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or mayonnaise should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours.
2. Any of the foods listed above should not be kept outside for more than one hour.
3. Thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables before offering them to family members.
4. If you are running errands, stop at the grocery store last before heading home. Transfer groceries that belong in the fridge into the refrigerator as soon as you return home from the store.
5. Food-borne illness has many of the same symptoms as the stomach flu. Monitor any family member who is showing signs such as nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.
1. Any food containing dairy, meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or mayonnaise should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours.
2. Any of the foods listed above should not be kept outside for more than one hour.
3. Thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables before offering them to family members.
4. If you are running errands, stop at the grocery store last before heading home. Transfer groceries that belong in the fridge into the refrigerator as soon as you return home from the store.
5. Food-borne illness has many of the same symptoms as the stomach flu. Monitor any family member who is showing signs such as nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.
6. In addition to keeping your family safe from getting sick, you also want to keep them away from an emergency trip to the dentist. Pick snacks that are easy on their teeth. Make sure you know when you need to take a child to the dentist in an emergency by checking this list.
Stock up on the ingredients you need for the simple snacks listed above and get your family hooked on some new favorites this summer!
Whitney Hollingshead is an optimist, a dreamer, and a professional writer. She loves learning and sharing tips, tricks, and fun facts with others. In her spare time she thrives on coming up with fun and creative solutions for everyday opportunities, especially when the solutions enable her to spend more time with family and friends.