Let's Go Chipper!

When the summer comes along, making sure your kids eat healthy snacks is a must! Too many of us are drawn to packaged, processed snacks for our little one’s, as they are easy to buy and bring along during our fun in the sun. But like Chipper always says, “Healthy before sweet, can’t be beat!” Feed your children healthy sugars by buying fruits that are in season during the summer months and trying these simple, fun snacks!  Serving frozen treats not only cools your bigger kids down, they are great for toddlers when they start teething. The cold feels good on their gums, and it get’s them to eat something healthy! These little one’s love to eat frozen peas, suck on frozen strawberry pops and crunch fruit juice ice spooned from paper cups when their baby teeth start to appear!

ARCTIC ORANGES

4 oranges
4 cups orange juice
4 cherries

Cut the tops off the oranges in a zigzag pattern. Hollow out the insides, remove the seeds and combine in a blender with the juice. Set the rinds in a muffin tin and fill with the mixture. Drop a cherry inside each orange. Freeze for 2 to 3 hours. Soften the treats for 5 minutes, then serve. Makes 4.

 

BANANA POPS

3 bananas
6 Popsicle sticks
1/4 cup peanut butter, softened
1/4 cup chopped peanuts or walnuts, granola, crispy rice cereal or sunflower seeds

Peel the bananas. Cut them in half, width wise, and push a Popsicle stick through the cut end of each half. Spread peanut butter on the bananas, then roll them in the nuts, cereal or seeds. Wrap them in waxed paper and freeze for 3 hours. Makes 6.

 

FROZEN FRUIT SALAD

Freeze the following bites for a fast and frosty treat: grapes, pineapple chunks, peach slices, apricot slices, banana slices, apple slices, cantaloupe balls, watermelon chunks, peas, zucchini slices, cucumber slices, orange wedges and fruit leather.