21 Easy Snacks to Make for Kids this Summer
Summer means a return to childcare duties for many grandparents. When the hungry hordes of little ones descend, will you be prepared? Here are 21 ideas for easy snacks grandparents can make.
Make it Together
One way to fix snacks and to entertain kids at the same time, is to have them make the snack with you. Most kids love “cooking.”
Little kids can help with any snacks that just require assembly. They can prep ingredients, such as cutting fruits with a table knife. Older kids can make complete recipes and use a regular knife and oven under careful adult supervision.
Healthy Snacks
You don’t have to worry about compromising on nutrition with these healthy snacks.
#1: Kale Chips
Strip away the stems from lacinato (dinosaur) kale. Brush kale leaves with olive oil and bake on a baking sheet in a single layer at 350 degrees F. for 10 to 15 minutes until crisp. While still warm, sprinkle lightly with kosher salt.
#2: Canned Fruit Sorbet
Freeze a can of fruit packed in juice. Remove lids from both ends to extract the contents, then cut into 2-inch chunks; process smooth in a food processor with a little lemon juice. Serve immediately. It’s refreshing and delicious. And, canned fruit can be as nutritious as fresh.
#3: Air-Popped Popcorn
Mix olive oil with your favorite herbs or spices and heat just until warm; drizzle over air-popped popcorn. Toss with hands to combine thoroughly.
#4: Fresh Fruit Parfait
Layer plain yogurt, granola, and berries or sliced summer fruits in a parfait glass or small bowl. Sweeten with a little brown sugar, if needed.
#5: Fruit Smoothies
Combine frozen fruit, yogurt, and milk in a blender and blend smooth. Sweeten with honey, if needed. For a slushy texture, add some ice cubes and blend. (Blender must be powerful enough to crush ice.) You could also add a small handful of baby spinach to boost nutrition.
#6 No-Bake Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
These bars require just five ingredients and five minutes. There are gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan options.
#7 Hummus
In a food processor, combine a 15-ounce can of chickpeas, drained (reserving liquid), and 1/2 cup tahini; puree until smooth, adding reserved liquid as necessary. Add 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 4 cloves minced garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Puree smooth. Serve with vegetable sticks. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
The Classics
These are classics because, time and again, they’ve proven to be easy snacks to make, enjoyed by kids through generations.
#8: Trail Mix or GORP
A popular snack during the ’60s, GORP (good ol’ raisins and peanuts) can be easily customized. Use nuts like roasted cashews, peanuts, macadamia nuts, or seasoned almonds. Dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, papaya, bananas, mangoes, dates, diced figs, and cherries. Add special ingredients like mini chocolate chips, flaked coconut, sunflower seeds, wasabi peas, or Japanese rice crackers. Package in zipper-top snack bags.
#9: Ants on a Log
Celery sticks stuffed with peanut butter and topped with raisin “ants” have satisfied kids since the 1950s. If you don’t have celery, substitute baby carrot sticks. There’s no channel for the peanut butter, but you can still make it work. You can also use bell pepper strips or apple wedges.
#10 Original Chex Party Mix and Chex Snacking Variations
Chex Party Mix has been a mainstay snack since the early 1950s. But you can also turn Chex rice cereal into kakimochi, a simple-to-make, but addictive, Japanese-inspired snack that’s a little more healthful.
#11: PB&J Building Blocks
I make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches into construction block rectangles that N can stack and build. He’s allowed to play with this food. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches became ubiquitous after World War II. Military personnel had acquired a taste for it when the sandwiches appeared on military ration menus during the war.
Indulgent Snacks
Sometimes, you don’t want to be the nutrition police.
#12: Chocolate Panini
Sandwich thin baking chocolate bars between two baguette slices, butter the outsides and grill on stovetop until the chocolate melts and bread is golden. Or grill in a panini press.
#13: Brownies and Ice Cream in a Jar
I created this dessert for Miss T’s birthday since she doesn’t like birthday cake. Layer brownies and ice cream in small mason jars. Make ahead and freeze. Top with whipped cream just before serving.
#14: Super-Simple Butter Cookies
Keep a few rolls of this buttery-rich, slice-and-bake cookie dough in the freezer. Bake just before the grandkids arrive so your kitchen will be fragrant and welcoming.
Hearty Snacks
These more filling snacks, can also substitute for lunch.
#15: Easy Pizza
Brush a flatbread such as naan, pita bread, or lavash with a mixture of olive oil and minced garlic. Bake at 400 degrees F to crisp slightly, about 3 minutes. Add shredded cheese, and other toppings such as thinly sliced tomatoes and mushrooms. Bake about 4 minutes more until cheese melts and tops are golden.
#16: Nachos
An easy snack for kids to make, try this healthy version. Included with the recipe are tips for teaching kids to cook.
#17: Grilled Cheese on Sourdough Bread
Sandwich cheese slices between two slices of sourdough bread. Butter the outsides and grill on stovetop until cheese melts and bread is golden. Or, Grill in a panini press. Here’s the important part: Cut the grilled cheese sandwich into sticks or “soldiers.” Kids love to eat it this way.
#18: Spam Musubi
This Spam and rice snack from Hawaii is tastier than you might imagine. Kids in Hawaii–and adults, too–devour these morsels. It’s a little more complicated to make, but worth it.
#19: Quesadillas
Fill half of a flour tortilla with shredded melty cheese, such as Monterey Jack. Fold tortilla in half to encase the cheese. Cook in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for 1 to 2 minutes on each side until cheese melts and tortillas are golden.
Splurge Snacks
It’s nice to do something fancier as a special treat occasionally.
#20: Tea Party
You could take one or two ideas from a fancy tea party that Miss T and I did a few years ago. But really, all you need is some sandwiches cut into finger-food size, homemade or store-bought cookies, and some heat-and-eat frozen hors d’oeuvres. The idea is to use fancy plates and serve food in tiny portions.
#21: Ice Cream Party
Set out sprinkles, toppings, and sauces. Provide a few flavors of ice cream. Add fruits like berries and sliced bananas. A squirt bottle of whipped cream is always a hit. Have kids make their own sundaes.
For more food ideas, check out Grandma Food.
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