Warm weather leads to swimming, beach volleyball, hiking, and biking. Snacking is a great way to refuel in between activities, especially when those snacks are healthy. Experts at  private elementary schools give parents a few summer snack suggestions that will keep their children satisfied and full of energy.

Trail Mix

Trail mixes are great because they can be prepped and sealed in individual baggies ahead of time. Kids can grab them when they are on the go with their sports teams or place them in a beach bag for snacking after building a sand castle. Simply combine ½ cup walnuts, 1 box of raisins, ½ cup of dark chocolate chips, ¼ cup sunflower seeds, ¼ cup almonds, and ¼ cup dried cranberries. Toss together and then separate into snack baggies.

Frozen Yogurt Pops

Since frozen yogurt pops don’t travel well, use this healthy snack on days your kids are busy playing at home. In a blender combine 12 ounces of vanilla yogurt, 1 banana, 4 strawberries, ¼ cup blueberries, a handful of frozen cranberries, 1 tablespoon of local honey and a splash of pineapple juice. Blend until smooth before transferring into your molds. You can use ice cube trays or disposable shot glasses. Place a popsicle stick in the center of each mold and set in the freezer. Once they’re frozen, all that is left to do is enjoy!

Fruit Kabobs

Transform boring ordinary fruit into cute, enticing kabobs. This technique will work with almost any combination of fruit, but here’s a simple recipe that is both tasty and healthy. Take out two skewers per child and slide a cube of cantaloupe on each. Next, add a blueberry before sliding on a cube of watermelon. Follow that with a black raspberry, a honeydew melon cube, and a strawberry. If your skewer is a long one, repeat using the same order. Spritz each skewer with a little lemon juice and set in the fridge until snack time.

Bell Pepper Bowls

Anything you can do to make vegetables more appealing is a good thing, which is where bell pepper bowls come in. Pick out one red bell pepper for each child. You can use any color pepper, but the red ones tend to taste a bit sweeter. Take the tops off and clean out the inside seeds. Pour a little ranch dressing in the bottom of the bell pepper bowls. Add carrot sticks, celery sticks, sugar snap peas, and a few bell pepper slices to the center of the bowl. Serve fresh and enjoy.

Private elementary schools are dedicated to helping parents nurture their children’s minds and bodies. Contact Lake Forrest Prep if you’d like to learn more.