Healthy and Fun Summer Recipes
Summer's almost here, school's out (or is about to be), and this means that it's time to come up with some cool summertime snacks for active young children. Our friend and fellow Marin mom Michelle Stern of What's Cooking has provided us with some fun, easy, healthy, and tasty summer recipes and snack ideas.
You can find more of Michelle's recipes, plus other informative posts on nutrition, food, and family, on her What's Cooking Blog. Michelle also offers cooking classes, cooking-themed birthday parties, and summer camps.
Carrot-Cheese Balls
4 oz cream cheese, cold
2 oz cheddar cheese
1 carrot
2 cups whole grain crackers
Grate cheddar cheese and carrot. Both of these can be done safely in a rotary cheese grater.
Put grated cheese and carrot in a medium bowl, and add cream cheese. Mix well to combine.
With moistened hands, gently form balls, each equal to 1 tablespoon of mixture. Serve or refrigerate in a sealed container or wrapped well. Store for up to 2 days.
Servings: 4
Nutrition (per serving): 130.0 calories; 66% calories from fat; 9.7g total fat; 30.8mg cholesterol; 184.4mg sodium; 118.8mg potassium; 3.9g carbohydrates; 0.5g fiber; 0.9g sugar; 3.4g net carbs; 6.7g protein
Frozen Fruit
At the peak of the season, buy some of these delicious treats at the farmer's market. Rinse and freeze—and then enjoy on a hot summer day:
- Watermelon chunks
- Blueberries
- Strawberries, halved or quartered
- Grapes (could be a choking hazard if you have a young child)
Cool and Refreshing Smoothies
Wish We Were in Hawaii
1/2 cup lowfat vanilla or plain yogurt
Splash of orange juice or milk, if desired
1/4 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1/4 cup frozen mango
1/3 frozen banana
The Blue Banana
1/4 cup lowfat milk
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 banana
3/4 cup frozen blueberries
Each recipe makes one kid-sized smoothie. To be more efficient, double this recipe and drink some, yourself… It is better for you than your usual coffee-only breakfast!
