Healthy Summertime Snacks for Kids

During the summer months, most kids spend most of their time at home. For us parents, that often means a larger grocery bill and a need for plenty of ready-to-eat snacks. If you're on the go and your kids are hungry, it's all too easy to fall back on seasonal favorites, like popsicles and ice cream, to keep your kids satisfied during these hot days. However, these treats end up drilling a hole in your wallet and filling your kids with unhealthy fats and sugars.

I'm no super-mom, and I've certainly fallen back on unhealthy sweets as an occasional summer indulgence. However, I've found plenty of other healthy foods that my daughter enjoys. These don't have the health drawbacks associated with candies and ice cream, but they can be just as much fun.

Freeze some bananas. Frozen bananas are an excellent, healthy summertime treat for kids. To make these tasty frozen snacks, simply place a row of peeled bananas on a sheet of aluminum foil. Drizzle them with chocolate sauce, dust on some crushed nuts, or sprinkle some cinnamon and brown sugar to create an array of different flavors. These summer snacks are low in fat, rich in antioxidants, and loaded with natural electrolytes.

Make cookie-cutter cheese.

Use small cookie cutters to press out pieces of low-fat cheese in the shape of hearts, stars, or whatever your kids would prefer. For bonus points, stake these cheesy snacks on a kebob with fresh apple slices, grapes, and bananas. My daughter's favorites are low-fat mozzarella and mild cheddar. This makes a refreshing snack and, ounce per ounce, is far cheaper than prepackaged cheese sticks.

Make homemade popsicles. Homemade popsicles are a classic summer snack for kids, and they are significantly healthier than those bright-blue sugar-sicles sold in most grocery stores. Make these using basic popsicle kits to freeze pureed fruit or juice. Make these more ice cream-like by blending in some low-fat yogurt, skim milk, or (as an occasional treat) half-and-half. Your kids will enjoy this more natural alternative to their most treasured hot-weather treats.

Mix up a smoothie. What kid can resist the sweet, fruity, creamy flavors of a homemade smoothie-- especially when the weather gets hot? As the mercury rises this season, blend together low-fat yogurt and frozen fruit and serve it with fresh fruit as garnish. All kids can enjoy these delicious afternoon snacks, and the combination of fiber and beneficial bacteria can help to improve their sensitive summertime tummies.

Fall back on ants on a log. You can never go wrong with this classic. Ants on a log-- celery filled with peanut butter and topped with raisins-- tastes delicious and provides a full scope of healthy nutritional building-blocks. For variety, try making this time-tested snack with dried cranberries instead of raisins, or almond-butter instead of peanut butter. You can't go wrong!

Crunch on some carrots. Cut up a few carrot sticks and serve them with low-fat ranch dressing for a cool, healthy summertime snack for your kids. Carrot sticks are as refreshing as they are nutritious. Loaded with fiber and beta-carotene, they can give your kids those important plant-based nutrients without tasting too boring or plant-like. You can also try serving carrot sticks with peanut butter and cottage cheese to add some variety to your kids' snack plans.