Healthy summer snacks for kids

Summer holidays are here and the kids are going to be home all the time. They’re always going to be hungry, not to mention hot, once they rush in after they’ve played long hours in the sun. Here are some healthy summer snack ideas for kids, for fun, and to beat the heat. And since they're so healthy, all the hard-working mommies can indulge in them as well!

                             

Frozen Orange: All you need are oranges and orange juice.
Cut tops off oranges and remove insides. Place insides with orange juice into blender and pour mixture into empty orange shells. Freeze. This is a refreshing snack that adds fluid to help meet hydration needs! 

 

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   5 minute chocolate mug cake: Keep your 5 year old occupied by letting her help you with this easy recipe. Add 4 tbsp all-purpose flour, 4tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp cocoa to a coffee mug and mix well with a fork. Add 1egg and mix thoroughly. Pour 3 tbsp milk, 3 tbsp oil, and 2-3 drops vanilla extract and mix well, being sure to scrape the edges of the cup. Add 3 tbsp chocolate chips and mix again. Place the mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes. Allow cake to cool. Serve with ice-cream
   
   

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    Banana Ice-cream - All you need are bananas, crushed peanuts in bowls, dark chocolate chips in bowls. Peel bananas and freeze. Remove from freezer and blend. Place in containers and add colourful sprinkles. This is a fun and healthy ice-cream sundae without tons of sugar that will make kids bounce off walls
    
    

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           Peanut butter banana bites: All you need are bananas, peanut butter, crushed whole grain cereal.Cut banana into bite size pieces. Spread peanut butter over each piece and dip in crushed cereal. Can use celery sticks or pretzels for sticks to put pieces on
     

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       Colourful Fruit Smoothie:  Put yoghurt, fresh fruits of the season, oranges, papaya, strawberries, grape juice and ice in a blender. Serve in colourful plastic glasses with funny straws
       

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         Shrimp - Mango Ceviche: Add 400gms shrimp, 1 cup cucumber, 1/2 cup onion, 1/4 cup spring onions, 1 cup chopped mango, 1 diced tomato and 1 jalapeno pepper to a large bowl. Sprinkle salt, seasonings (chili/cumin/etc) and lime juice. Marinade for about two hours. Serve with cilantro and limes.
                        

        • Fruit Kebabs: Dice up different coloured fruits and line them up on a wooden skewer. Drizzle chocolate sauce. Just serving fruit in interesting ways can do the trick of making them feel like eating fruits and other
           
           
                  
          Berry Ice: In a mixer, combine 4 cups berries and ¾ cup white grape juice and pulse until mixed. Strain the mixture into a medium-size bowl through a medium mesh strainer. Add ¾ cup maple syrup, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and pinch of salt to bowl and stir. Transfer mixture into a pan and freeze for 1 hour. Remove the pan and scrape frozen edges into the center. Freeze again, then scrape ice crystals into the center again. Freeze for 1 hour, or overnight. Serve when mixture is firm
           
           
           

                   

          Summers suck the energy out of us, and between all this draining, cooking an elaborate Indian meal can be taxing. We give you summer recipes and summer drinks that will not only have a cooling effect on your tummy but also energize and hydrate you from the summer heat

           

           

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             Mango Salsa:  Combine 1 ripe mango, 1/2 medium red onion, 1 jalapeno, 1 small peeled cucumber, 3 tbs fresh coriander, 3 tbs fresh lime juice, salt and pepper to taste in a bowl. Add some diced avocados for variety
             

             

             Watermelon salad:  Watermelons are in season and they are one of the best things you can eat in summer. Liven up watermelon with thisunique tasting salad. Chop watermelon into cubes, add feta cheese, pine nuts, and basil leaves, and you are good to go

             

             

             

            Gazpachio:  Put 1/3 cup olive oil and juice of 1 lemon into a blender. Add 6 -8 tomatoes chopped; 1/2 large white onion, chopped finely; 1/2 large white onion, chopped in 1/4 inch chunks; 2 small cucumbers or 1 large cucumber, chopped. Season with sea salt, fresh ground black pepper,chopped basil or cilantro,2 cloves garlic. Mix until the gazpacho is soupy but still has some good-sized chunks; add salt, pepper, oil or basil to taste. Serve cold.

             

             

             Hung Curd Dip:  The cooling effect of hung curd – which is curd wrapped in a muslin cloth until all the water drains off – combined with your favourite spices like garlic, onions, capsicum, green chilies, cucumber, red chili flakes, oregano, salt, pepper, etc. is great when paired with fresh vegetables. Make a big batch of your favourite hung curd dip and keep munching carrots, celery, cucumber, broccoli, or banana or kand (purple yam) chips once in a while to take care of your snacking needs during summer.

             

             

             

            Cold Buttermilk and Shrimp Soup: In a large bowl, whisk together 1 quart buttermilk, 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp sugar. Add 8 ounces shrimp, peeled, deveined, 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped and 2 tbsp chopped green onion. Stir until well combined. Refrigerate, covered, for 3 hours or until very cold.

            
            

             

            Fruity Green Salad: Toss together 6 ounces mixed baby salad greens, 1-cup seasonal fruit of your choice, ½ cup dried figs or dried cranberries, ¼ cup slivered almonds in large bowl. Whisk together:¼ cup Real pomegranate juice drink, 1tsp lemon juice and ½ tsp sugar in small bowl. Add ¼ cup mayonnaise and 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil. Whisk until smooth and creamy. Drizzle over salad.