Cool Kids Need Cool Snacks

There’s nothing worse than kids that get bored, hungry and hot in the summertime. When kids become bored, hungry and hot they are hard to satisfy. Do you often hear “but I don’t like THAT mom” or other complaints when you offer them a quick snack? Looking for some healthy, delicious, “cool” treats to satisfy kids of all ages? Then look no further! Here are some treats the kids will love and ask for over and over. You will love them too because they are easy to make, delicious and healthy.

Fruit Pizza:

• 1 pkg. refrigerated sugar cookie dough mix
• 1-8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 4 cups assorted fruits, sliced

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees Celsius). Roll the cookie dough into a ball and place in the center of a pizza pan. Spread the dough evenly onto pizza pan, into a 12 inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Mix the sugar and cream cheese together and spread over the crust. Layer the fruit over the sauce. Sprinkle the lemon juice over the fruit to help keep it from turning brown. Refrigerate. Slice into 12 pizza wedges and serve. Refrigerate any leftovers. This is also a great treat to serve at a birthday party. Kids and adults love it!

Fruit Juice Spritzer

Kids like soda, but it’s not the best drink for them especially when they are hot. A fruit juice spritzer will fit the bill when it comes to replacing that soda intake. It’s refreshing, cool and tasty. It has the added benefit of fruit juice so you can count is as a fruit serving for the day. Use 100% Juicy Juice because it is 100% all natural juice. The kids will love it. This sprizer is a cool, easy to serve beverage made of ingredients you probably already have.

To make this spritzer, fill a glass with ice. Add the juice to fill the glass half full. Fill the rest of the glass with 7UP or Sprite. It’s better than a full glass of soda and the kids get the fruit serving they need. You can vary the amounts of course; a little more juice or a little less, depending on your taste. Just remember not to defeat the purpose of cutting down on the soda.

For an added treat you could blend the juice with some ice in the blender and make a slushy drink. Just fill the glass with the mixture and pour the soda over the icy juice.

Homemade Juice or Kool-Aid Popsicles

Homemade Popsicles are a kid’s delight. They have the enjoyment of helping to make them along with the fun of eating them. These are handy to have around when the kids are looking for a quick cool down snack.

To make these little wonders you will need a pitcher of juice or Kool-Aid. When using juice be sure to mix it with 5 parts water to 1 part juice. Pour the juice or Kool-Aid into freezer Popsicle molds. Ice cube trays may also be used. When using ice cube trays place them in freezer and allow them to freeze slightly. Insert the Popsicle stick into the middle of the frozen ice cube and continue freezing until solid.

Ice Cream Candy Float

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream is a sure thing when you have kids and its summertime. What better summertime treats can be found than a delicious ice cream float

Use the kid’s favorite ice cream. Place two scoops in a tall glass. Break up candy bar into pieces and place in glass with the ice cream. Fill with root beer or cola.

Yogurt and Fruit Pops

Kids love grabbing something quick and cool to take outside on a hot summer day. Best of all they like sharing these special treats with their friends. These little pops are easy to make, quick to grab and are a healthy alternative to the summer time cool off snack.

To make these pops you will need Popsicle molds with sticks, a container of fruit yogurt and sliced fruit.

Fill the molds with the yogurt. Insert the stick into the mold. Place the sliced fruit on top of the yogurt. Place them in the freezer until they are very firm. To remove the pop just place the mold in warm water.

These snacks are easy, cool and healthy all wrapped up in one. Keeping kids happy during the long summer months doesn’t have to be looked at as a chore. In reality it’s an adventure. Give your kids the snacks that will keep them happy while maintaining your own cool as well.