Summer vacation is a time to play outside, be active with your kids and enjoy each other’s company. This summer, even more so as we spend more time together and try to find ways to stay busy and keep safe during the Pandemic. Keeping a regular eating schedule with the family can help stave off those low blood sugar mood swings and cranky outbursts.  This summer be prepared for the snack attack!  Try to have some simple snacks ready to go, a list of possible snacks older kids can make for themselves and remind everyone to aim to eat every 3 hours or so and stay well hydrated.  Try these easy snack and drink ideas:

Snacks to keep on hand in the fridge:

• Fruit kebobs: skewer cubes of watermelon, cantaloupe and strawberries onto skewers and dip them in yogurt.
• Raw vegetables and dips like hummus or tzatziki.  Keep a clear glass container with cut up vegetables in clear view at the front of the fridge with the container of dip on top for easy access.
• Fruit smoothie popsicles: toss in frozen berries, ice and mango or banana and blend away.  For a more substantial snack add in some Greek yogurt.  Pour into a popsicle holder and freeze.
• Chocolate milk ice:  Partially freeze chocolate milk in a plastic cup and let them eat it with a spoon
• Chocolate chip zucchini banana loaf. Make it ahead and freeze it in slices.  Much better for you than store bought granola bars
• Plate of watermelon.  Consider cutting the watermelon off the rind to reduce wasted melon.
• Bowl of washed grapes cut into little easy to grab bunches
• Trail Mix: Easy to take to the beach.  Almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, dried cherries, dried apricots, raisins and apples.
• Fruit salad, yogurt and granola in individual small sized mason jars.  Make these ahead as an easy to grab snack.
• Hard boiled eggs
• Edamame
• Frozen Berry ice cubes:  Make water more exciting by freezing raspberries in water in the ice cube tray.

Snacks Kids can make for themselves:

• Crackers, cheese and cucumber rounds
• Apple slices with peanut butter dunked in Cheerios
• Pita pockets stuffed with tinned flavoured tuna and cucumber or lettuce
• Homemade muffins (suggest older kids make muffins with a muffin mix and add frozen blueberries)
• Toast, apple slices and melted sharp cheddar with a drizzle of balsamic glaze
• Peanut butter or almond butter and banana roll-ups.  Spread peanut butter on a whole grain tortilla and roll it up.
• Corn on the cob: Microwave the corn in the husk for 3 minutes per cob.  Cut off the butt end 1 cm in.  Hold on to the tip and shake the cob out the bottom.
• Mini pizza bagels: spread tomato sauce on the bagel, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and melt under the broiler.   Add ham and pineapple for Hawaiian pizzas
• Strawberry Flavoured water:  1 cup strawberries and 1 cup water, a twist of lemon and blend.  serve with ice!  If you think it needs sweetness blend in a banana.
• Dessert Nachos:  Cut pita into triangles, slightly spray with olive oil and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and bake until crunchy.  Top with chopped strawberries or make a fruit salsa.

Your little rascals burn lots of calories running around on the beach and playing in the sun so they need to stay well fueled and hydrated to prevent those meltdowns, and so do we!!  Enjoy your summer together.