Plant-based summer snacks for kids. Need ideas for healthy snacks for summer? From homemade popsicles to snack balls, we’re sharing some of our favorites.
Summer is upon us (finally!). Whether that means travel, sitting poolside, or a bit of both for your family, it’s also summer snack season.
We don’t know about you, but it seems like our kids become even bigger snack monsters when the hot weather comes out.
Some of our traditional go-to summer snacks include things like:
- Trail mix
- Fresh fruit
- Cut veggies with guacamole
- PB&J triangle sandwiches
- Pitted dates stuffed with nut butter
- Yogurt with berries
- Cucumber slices with cream cheese
But today we’re also sharing some easy snack recipes you can make at home and enjoy on the patio or down by the water. Enjoy!
Dairy-Free Strawberries N’ Cream Popsicles
Who doesn’t love popsicles in the summer? Making them at home couldn’t be easier! Plus, we like that homemade popsicles allows more control over the ingredients, like added sugar.
This recipe simply requires blending coconut milk with strawberries, chia seeds, and a sweetener of choice, and dividing into popsicle molds to freeze.
Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookie Dough Balls
Chickpeas have a fairly neutral flavor, which makes them one of most versatile beans out there. We even love using them in slightly sweet treats for our kids.
These cookie dough snack balls blend chickpeas with peanut butter, oats, vanilla, sea salt, chocolate chips, and pitted dates to make bite-sized, protein-rich, portable snacks for summer.
And if you like these, give these other snack ball variations a try:
Lemon Chia Pudding
Chia seeds are a great source of protein and fiber, plus they make an excellent binding agent for homemade pudding.
If you’ve ever used “chia eggs” for baking at home (mix 1 tablespoon of chia with 2.5 tablespoons of water, let sit 5 minutes to gel), you already know how well they stick together.
This recipe is light and refreshing and perfect for summer. And it only requires 4 ingredients!
For another naturally sweet variation, try this our Mango Chia Pudding too.
Vanilla Granola and Strawberry Yogurt Parfaits
Parfaits aren’t just for breakfast! These can be toted in a cooler as a delicious and healthy afternoon snack.
This recipe uses homemade vanilla granola sweetened with fruit and a hint of optional maple syrup. Lightly sweet with a crunch, you can adjust these to your own preferences, adding other types of fruit or seeds.
Refreshing Fruit Smoothies
Smoothies are great because not only are they an easy way to hydrate and cool off a running child, they’re also a perfect vehicle for nutrition. Plus, they don’t always have to be totally fruit-based.
This summer, try blending nut and seed butters, leafy greens, avocado, and even some green peas or white beans into your babe’s smoothies.
Here are some of our go-to smoothie recipes to get you started!
- Sunrise Smoothie Boost
- Apple Green Ginger Smoothie
- Pina Colada Smoothie
- Peanut Butter Black Bean Protein Smoothie
- Beet and Berry Smoothie
And if your kids don’t drink the whole smoothie? Pour any remaining into popsicle molds and pop them in the freezer. Homemade popsicles for tomorrow!
We hope this gives you some ideas when making plant-based summer snacks for kids. When everyone is bustling around, healthy snacks for summer are much needed! Try some new snacks this summer, like homemade popsicles or chia pudding.
Chime in: What are some of your kids’ favorite summer snacks? Share your ideas below!
If you found this post helpful, take a peek at some of these too:
- 5 Ways to Reintroduce Foods to Picky Eaters
- How to Introduce Leafy Greens to Babies and Toddlers
- 5 Tips for Planning Plant-Based Lunches for Kids
- Is Fruit Bad for Babies? The Truth About Sugar in Fruit
Leave a reply