Summer is the perfect time to continue your healthy eating routine. With all the fresh fruits and vegetables available this time of year, it’s not hard to make a fun and delicious summer snack.
Here are some healthy snack ideas for the summer’s hottest days! They are all fairly easy to make and are a great way to get us excited about healthy eating. Summer smoothies and popsicles are easy to prepare and don’t have all the added sugar of processed products. Have fun putting your own twist on these!
You can also make fruit flags. You just have to chop the fruit into good size pieces to be able to insert the toothpick. My recommendations are berries, bananas, strawberries, and grapes. You can also add some pieces cheese for a more gourmet touch. In addition to being very tasty, these look great when plated.
Another of my easy favorites are watermelon popsicles. All you have to do are slice the watermelon into triangles and make a groove in the rind for the popsicle stick. You can then freeze the popsicles and serve them cold. You can also do the same with the kiwis; just be sure to use a thinner popsicle stick. These are definitely going to be a hit!
Another great recipe is apple nachos. All you have to do is cut the apple into thin slices, arrange the slices on a large plate, and drizzle them with peanut or almond butter. You can add more toppings like melted cocoa, sliced almonds, cocoa nibs, peanuts, shredded coconut, hemp seeds, and more. Get creative, and add your own flavor to this healthy option for summer.
For those who prefer salty snacks, I recommend pieces of celery, carrot, cucumber, jicama, and cherry tomatoes accompanied by a Greek yogurt dip. Here’s the recipe:
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
- 1/4 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup organic milk (you can also use plant-based milks)
Instructions
Place all the ingredients except the milk in a large mixing bowl. Stir everything until smooth and well mixed. To achieve the desired consistency, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk at a time, mixing well after each addition. Serve with cut vegetables.
Finally, I would like to share one of my personal favorites that’s also a huge hit with my children: strawberry-banana sorbet. Fruit sorbet is different than ice cream because there is no dairy in it. Because the main ingredients are fruits, sorbet is not as creamy as ice cream. It has an icier and more refreshing texture. It’s a great treat when you want something sweet but not too heavy.
Here’s the recipe:
1. Cut up strawberries and bananas and place them on a baking sheet.
Freeze for an hour or until almost completely frozen. Then, you’re ready to make the sorbet.
2. Put the strawberries, banana, and a dash of lemon in a blender or food processor. Pulse until the mixture begins to combine and but still has small lumps. Then blend until smooth and creamy.
3. Serve immediately for incredible texture. If you don’t want to serve it just yet, though, you can put it in an airtight container and freeze it until you’re ready to enjoy.
Bananas are sweet and creamy, making them the perfect balance for tart, firm strawberries. The different flavors of these fruits mix very well, especially in a frozen dessert. If your fruit isn’t very ripe, you can add a little honey or monk fruit to the mixture to sweeten it up.
XO
Sira