Kid-Approved Summer Snacks

BlogHealth and Nutrition
Written By Shannon Baker

Warmer weather and jam-packed schedules often throw normal mealtime schedules off, but one thing remains the same – kids love snacks! Nothing says summer like enjoying an ice-cold snack after playing in the heat. Snacks are a great way to add in more fruits and veggies to your child’s day and sneak in some much-needed hydration.

Are snacks good for my kids?

After a child’s first year of life, growth (and appetite!) slows down. Children become less predictable in their appetite, when, and—of course—what they want to eat. In addition to 3 meals, parents should offer between 2-4 snacks throughout the day. Embrace snack time as an opportunity to boost their nutrition. Snacks built with dairy foods like milk, cheese and yogurt offer essential nutrients for growth like protein, calcium, and Vitamin D. 

Summer Snack-tivities For Kids

  • Grab a muffin tin and have kids fill each cup with an assortment of sliced fruit, veggies, cheese cubes, and pretzels.

  • Cover blueberries in yogurt and place on a baking sheet and freeze for frozen blueberry bites!

  • Whip up smoothies using frozen fruit, milk, and yogurt. Try our Triple Berry Smoothie or the delicious Strawberry Milk Refresher.

  • Turn smoothies into popsicles for a fun summer treat! Use popsicle molds or cups and plastic spoons instead. Add slices of fresh fruit or chocolate chips to the molds for even more fun!

  • Have a theme day! Serve Captain Marvel’s Smoothie Bowls, make your own superhero costumes, choose a superpower, and go on adventures saving the day.

  • Make mini caprese salads on child-safe toothpicks by combining cherry tomato, mozzarella cheese, and a slice of fresh basil or drizzle of basil pesto.

  • Cool off with Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Squares. 

Sarah Hester, MS, RD

Related Posts

Featured
How Dairy Foods Can Support Postpartum Moms
How Dairy Foods Can Support Postpartum Moms

Consuming nutritionally dense foods with the necessary vitamins and minerals can encourage the healthy brain and muscular development of the baby while also replenishing the depleted nutrient stores of the mother.

What to Eat When You’re Expecting
What to Eat When You’re Expecting

The American Academy of Pediatrics highlights 14 essential nutrients that influence early brain development. Remarkably, dairy products supply 7 of these nutrients, including iodine, vitamin B12, and choline. Here’s how these nutrients benefit your baby and simple ways to include them in your diet.

Black American Health Series: Dairy’s Role During Pregnancy, Fetal Development, and Lactation
Black American Health Series: Dairy’s Role During Pregnancy, Fetal Development, and Lactation

Learn the role dairy plays throughout the lifespan and how it helps to address health disparities for Black Americans beginning with pregnancy, fetal development, and lactation. Adequate nutrition is particularly important during this time as this is a lifespan stage where rapid development is taking place, setting the stage for future health implications.

Shannon Baker
Previous

Let’s Celebrate the South Carolina Dairy Industry
Next

Let’s Celebrate the North Carolina Dairy Industry