Does it seem like you never have enough snacks on hand to feed all the hungry kiddos who pass through your kitchen during the summer? We’ve got some easy, delicious, healthy summer snack ideas kids will love for the flavor, color, and crunch, and you’ll love the fact that these summer snacks are both portable and practical. You don’t have to spend a ton of money or take a food design class to produce good looking, tasty snacks your kids will gobble up.
Fruit necklaces
It doesn’t get much more portable than a snack you can wear! All you need is some fresh fruit (we suggest strawberries, blueberries, and grapes), a chunky yarn needle, and some elastic cord and you’ve got a fun summer snack to make, wear, and eat.
Instructions:
1. Wash fruit
2. Cut a two-foot length of elastic cord, thread onto yarn needle, and knot one end
3. Thread fruit onto cord
4. Tie off and wear/ eat
Fruit and cheese kabobs
A great way to use any leftover fruit from your edible necklace project; just add cheese cubes and make fresh, healthy, portable summer snacks on a stick using wooden skewers found at any grocery store.
Fruit salad to go
Small cellophane bags make perfect to-go containers for a fresh fruit salad. Just layer red and green grapes, apple slices, mandarin orange sections, sliced strawberries, and whole blueberries, tie off with ribbon and you’ve got a portable summer snack that is both colorful and fun.
Watermelon Popsicles
Easy-peasy watermelon to go! Simply cut watermelon in wedge-shaped pieces, cut a small slice in the center of the rind, and insert a popsicle stick. Voila! Watermelon popsicles to go! Easiest snack ever.
Veggies and dip cups
Lose the fear of double dippers with these handy portable veggie cups. Choose your favorite dip or hummus flavor and place ¼ cup in the bottom of a plastic cup. Add fresh veggies like asparagus spears, celery sticks, sugar snap peas, carrot sticks, cucumber slices, jicama, and red, yellow, and green bell pepper slices (and any other crunchy veggie long enough to stand up in a cup). It doesn’t get much better than a fresh, healthy summer snack in a cup. You can make these ahead of time and store them in the fridge for easy access.
Blueberry chia popsicles
Easy to make, fun to eat on the go. Just 5 ingredients and the time it takes to freeze, these healthy summer snacks will be a hit with kids and adults alike this summer. Cool off in a deliciously healthy way with these frozen treats.
Instructions:
1. Blend: 1 cup blueberries fresh or frozen
2. 4 tablespoons of chia seeds
3. ½ of a large avocado
4. 1 banana
5. 1 cup almond milk
Pour blended mixture into popsicle molds and freeze (approximately 8 hours or make ahead the night before). Makes 6 to 10 popsicles, depending on the size of your popsicle molds. Any leftovers can be enjoyed as a smoothie.
Homemade granola bars
Kids love granola bars, but store-bought bars can be expensive and loaded with preservatives. Why not make your own at home, and always have some on hand to grab and go? Check out these eight easy gluten-free homemade granola bar recipes From Bless This Mess that include peanut butter, chocolate, nuts, cranberries, and white chocolate.
Whether you choose a fresh fruit treat, crunchy, colorful veggies, and dip, a gluten-free homemade granola bar, or a fabulous frozen summer popsicle, these easy to make portable summer snacks are simple to assemble for your next backyard picnic or a trip to the park, and sure to please even the pickiest snackers.
When you’re out and about in Denver this summer and you need a delicious homemade meal or snack to keep you and the crew fueled up for all your summer adventuring, head on over to one of our two convenient Original Pancake House locations in the Denver area. You can find us at Cherry Hills or Denver Tech Center any day of the week from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm. We look forward to welcoming you soon!