Posts tagged ‘healthy summer snacks’
Chipper Snacks: Banana’s for Healthy Energy
During the summer, the kids are on the go! To camp, to the park, or beach days, they are in need of a energizing snack by the end of the day! Next time you are trying to plan a healthy, tasty snack for your little ones, try out these nutritious bites! They are easy to mass-produce and just as easy for players to pop in their mouths during halftime or whenever they need a boost. It’s one of Chipper’s favorite recipes since it includes nuts : )
- Ingredients
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- 1 small banana
- 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
- 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
- Finely chopped peanuts, mini-chocolate chips, or shredded coconut for coating
- Instructions
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- In a medium bowl, mash together the banana and the peanut butter.
- Stir in the wheat germ. Roll individual tablespoons of the mixture into balls, then roll the balls in one, or a mix, of the coatings listed above. Chill until firm. Makes about 14 balls.
- Variation: For a peanut-free version, substitute sunflower-seed or soy-nut butter for the peanut butter, and omit the peanuts and chocolate chips (which can contain traces of peanut).
Chipper Snacks: 3 Ways to Eat Watermelon this Summer
Plain and unadorned, watermelon is a reliable source of cool refreshment. At 92% water, it’s a wonderful snack for those hot summer days and a great source of vitamin C for your little ones. With it’s sweet and juicy taste, they’ll never guess that they are eating a healthy snack! Watermelon is always good but check out these ideas for creative ways to use this favorite summertime fruit!
1. Halloween in the Summer: Carve a Melon Manner!
Looking for a sweet real estate deal? Turn the rind of this favorite summertime fruit into a palatial home for toy figures or visiting fairies.
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- Start by slicing off one end of the melon and setting it aside. Cut the insides into pieces, remove them, then scoop out any remaining chunks with a long-handled spoon (save the insides to make a scrumptious salad seen below).
- Carve windows and a door with a small knife, or if you really want to get fancy, break out your pumpkin-carving tools.
Use toothpicks as needed to join bits and pieces into shrubs and to secure the roof (made from the sliced-off end). To illuminate your stately mansion by night, place a battery-operated tea light inside or use an old fashion candle!
2. Forget Baking: Try these Cool Cookies!
All you need beside a watermelon is Vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt and Sprinkles (optional).
- Slice melon into 1-inch-thick slabs, then use cookie cutters to make shapes.
- Frost your treats with vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt (spoon the yogurt into a squeeze bottle to make decorating really fun and easy) and top them with sprinkles if you like.
3. Use up chunks of Watermelon: Test out this Surprisingly Delicious Salad!
The sweet-and-salty flavor combo of watermelon and feta may sound a little strange, but trust Chipper: your kids will go bananas for it. You will need:
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- 8 cups cubed watermelon
- 2 to 4 ounces cubed or crumbled feta
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Fresh basil or mint
- 8 cups cubed watermelon
- Instructions:
- 1. Mix the watermelon and feta.
- 2. Toss with a dressing made from the lime juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with slivered fresh basil or mint. Serves 8.
- Like Chipper always says, “Healthy before sweet can’t be beat!” Enjoy your sweet AND healthy watermelon this Summer!
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Chipper Snacks: Summer Garden Lasagna
Summer veggies are in full stock at your local farmers markets and produce stores! As Chipper says, “Healthy before Sweet, Can’t be Beat!” Summer vegetables are low in fat, sodium and calories while high in potassium, helping to keep blood pressure at a healthy level. Get your kids to eat one to one and a half cups daily with this tasty summer recipe!
SUMMER GARDEN LASAGNA:
8 UNCOOKED lasagna noodles
1 TBSP. vegetable oil
1 MEDIUM onion
8 OZ. fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 MEDIUM eggplant, peeled and diced
1 (15 oz.) CONTAINER part-skim ricotta cheese
2 TSP. Italian seasoning
1 (26 to 28 oz.) JAR pasta sauce
8 OZ. part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
First, cook your lasagna noodles. Drain and cool. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large non-stick skillet, heat oil. Add onion and cook until soft. Add mushrooms and cook about 5 minutes. Add eggplant and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning; stir. Cover and cook on low heat for 20 to 30 minutes, or until eggplant has softened. Combine ricotta cheese and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning in a bowl; set aside. In an ungreased 13×9-inch baking dish, spread 1/2 cup of the pasta sauce. Top with 4 lasagna noodles, half of the ricotta mixture, half of the cooked vegetables, and 1 1/4 cups of pasta sauce. Spread half of the shredded cheese evenly and repeat layers. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy! (Makes 12 servings and each serving provides 250 calories, 12 grams of protein, 29 grams carbohydrates, 10 grams fat, 530 milligrams sodium, 3 grams fiber.)
Get healthy this summer by eating organic, in-season veggies like corn, green beans, spinach, tomatoes and zucchini! Use left over sauteed eggplant from this recipe with some diced tomatoes as a dip for crackers or store uncut, fresh eggplant in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days later! Buy veggies from your local farmers market for the best quality and value and remember to always wash them before eating. Also, try out container gardening this summer with your kids by growing bell peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes in pots. They are beautiful, delicious, and filter the air! Get out and get Chipper after dinner by taking a 30-minute family walk to watch the sunset or talk about your yummy meal.
Chipper Snacks: Healthy Frozen Treats for the Summer!
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.
Chipper Snacks: A Healthy Summer Snack of Fruity Lemonaide Icepops
The summer is officially here! Chipper is excited for some warm weather fun and all the delicious fruits in season. Once the kids are out of school, it can be hard to make sure they keep eating healthy during the summer slump. On those scorching days, when going to the pool or beach still won’t cool them down, try this simple, HEALTHY Ice Pop recipe rather than giving in to the ice cream truck man! As Chipper always says, “Healthy before Sweet, Can’t be Beat!” Plus, it can be a fun activity to try with your kids!
The recipe is very simple: fresh squeezed lemonade poured over chunks of juicy fruit and then frozen. All you need are some freezer popsicle containers, which you can find at most stores or online for as little as $3, and some fruit! We used kiwis and blueberries here because they look so cool suspended together in the golden ice, but you can use any kind of fresh fruit you like — pineapple, strawberries, mango — there are no end to the possibilities.
Fruity Lemonade Ice Pops makes 8 ice pops
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup lemon juice (about 4-5 lemon’s squeezed)
1/4 cup agave or honey
8 kiwi slices (or try a cut up Banana)
16 blueberries (or try sliced Strawberry’s)
1. In a bowl, mix together the water, lemon juice and agave.
2. Place 3-5 blueberries and 1 or 2 kiwi slices in each ice pop mold.
3. Gently pour the liquid mixture into each mold. You can reposition the fruit after you’ve poured in the liquid.
4. Freeze 6 hours or until frozen through.
5. Serve and Enjoy!
Your kids will love making and eating these tasty snacks! It also is a great way for them to cool down while getting their daily intake of fruit needed to keep them strong and healthy. Please share your different fruit combo’s with us this summer! When life gives you lemons…make some popsicles!
