Cooking with Kids: Summer snacks

Kids are home for the summer, what better time to get them in the kitchen!

Here are a few of my kids' favorite summer snacks:

This old classic of meat and cheese with crackers is made fun with the help of cookie cutters! Visual presentation can make a world of change when it comes to the "same old, same old" food. Plus, my kids get a kick out of getting to cookie cut their food.

Ingredients-

• Sliced lunch meat
• Sliced cheese
• Crackers of choice
• 1-2" metal cookie cutters

Directions-

Help your kids position the cookie cutters so you can get as many shapes per slice of cheese/meat you can. NOTE: all those random leftover meat and cheese scraps (if you or your kids don't eat them) save in a ziplock bag and throw them into scrambled eggs; waste not, want not!

This is a fun healthy snack that kids enjoy getting to put together, if they don't eat all the fruit in the process!

Ingredients-

• Any type of small or cut into 1" cubes fresh fruit
• Short wooden skewers

Directions-

Arrange the fruit in any order on the skewers! NOTE: this does take some supervision, skewers can be sharp.

These snacks are so easy and great for a quick grab. To be honest, I made a batch of these for myself and my kids ate most of them. You may want to double the recipe!

Ingredients-

• 1 cup old fashion oats
• 1/2 cup peanut butter or other nut butter of choice
• 1/3- 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup milled flax seed
• 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup dried craisins (you can chop them if you'd prefer smaller bits)

Directions-

Hand mix all the dry ingredients together until well combined, then add the nut butter and honey. Mix until all ingredients are blended and sticking together. Roll into 1" balls, put on a cookie sheet or plate to flash freeze or put in the fridge until set. Once set, put in a plastic container, keep refrigerated and enjoy!

NOTE: the nut butter and the honey are the binders, so if you feel the all the ingredients aren't melding well add more honey. A little trick I learned, when you rolls the balls, coat your hands with a bit of oil to keep the batter from sticking to your hands.

We are not soda drinkers at our house. On rare occasion we will have some soda but it's usually all natural brands like Hansen's. My kids do enjoy bubbly mineral water or juice with club soda, so here is one of their favorites!  

Bubbly fun-

Ingredients-

• 1/4 cup natural juice (not from concentrate)
• 1/4 cup club soda
• Crushed ice

Directions-

Fill cup(s) with ice, fill glass half way with juice then top off with club soda and stir- enjoy!

Veggies and ranch, one of my kids’ favorite snacks and even better with homemade ranch; check out the link here for the recipe: Cook This: Summer/Lunch/Snack/Dessert Recipes