10 Summer Food For Kids That You Need To Try

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Summer is a season of fun and frolic and when appetites tend to dwindle due to the heat. But no worries!

Food can be enjoyable, nutritious, and attractive, especially for our little ones. As parents, we strive for our children to have balanced meals. This blog provides 10 Quick and Easy Summer Food Ideas for Kids that are fuss-free, nutritious, and filling.

We cover everything from breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas to snacks and desserts. With these summer food recipes up your sleeve, you can ensure your child enjoys their meals while getting vital nutrients. Our compilation offers an array of healthy recipes that are fresh, flavourful, and fulfilling that you will love making and your children will relish eating.

Refreshing Summer Breakfast Ideas for Kids

Breakfast is essential, giving you the energy to kick-start your day. Inculcate a healthy habit of not skipping breakfast in your kids. Here are some exciting ideas for making breakfast their favourite summer meal, starting with fruit-infused overnight oats and colourful smoothie bowls.

Fruit-Infused Overnight Oats

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Let’s start with Fruit-Infused Overnight Oats and Muffins, a wholesome healthy breakfast that is loved by adults and kids alike. These are not only healthy but also a no-fuss option for those busy mornings.

Overnight oats are simple to make. All you need to do is soak rolled oats in yogurt or milk and leave it overnight. The oaty mixture absorbs the liquid, turning soft and pleasantly chewy by morning. You can enhance the taste and nutritional value by adding an assortment of fruits.

Here is a basic recipe for homemade uncrustables: Combine half a cup of rolled oats with equal parts of liquid (milk or yogurt). Add a touch of sweet with a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup. Pop the sealed mixture in the fridge or freezer and leave it overnight. In the morning, layer it with seasonal fruits like berries, bananas, peaches, or homemade uncrustables apples.

With this easy and highly customizable recipe, your little ones are guaranteed a nutritious and yummy start to their summer days.

Colourful Smoothie Bowls

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Another exciting summer breakfast idea is Colourful Smoothie Bowls. They’re as delicious as they sound. To make them, you need your favourite fruits and a sturdy blender.

Start by making a base for your smoothie bowl using frozen fruit like bananas or berries. Next, add a scoop of Greek yogurt and a splash of milk or a milk alternative and blend until smooth. Then comes the fun part! Top your base with more fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, granola, or anything else that your little ones love.

Here’s an ideal ratio to start with:

• frozen fruit: 1 cup
• yogurt: half a cup
• 2 tablespoons of honey

Layer the mixture with wholesome goodies like:

• Fresh berries
• Nuts (for protein)
• Chia seeds or flaxseeds

Not only are these smoothie bowls easy to customize based on your child’s likes, but they also serve as a great way to incorporate different fruits and veggies into their diet. Make breakfast colourful and nutritious with these summer meals, and start your day off right!

Nutritious and Delicious Lunches

With breakfast sorted, let’s move on to lunch. Summer lunch ideas should be light, refreshing, and packed with nutrients. We have delightful lunch recipes such as Veggie-Packed Wraps, Waffle Sandwiches, and Cold Pasta Salads with Grilled Chicken that are kid-approved and entirely wholesome.

Veggie-Packed Wraps

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Veggie-packed wraps are a summertime favourite. They are super easy to put together and perfect for a light yet filling lunch. They are incredibly versatile and nutritious. Choose a whole wheat or spinach wrap, spread your favourite hummus or cream cheese, and fill it up with a variety of fresh veggies like sliced cucumbers, julienned carrots, bell peppers, and lettuce.

Here are some steps to make a Veggie-Packed Wrap:

• Step 1: Lay out the wrap and spread a layer of your chosen spread.
• Step 2: Pile on the veggies in the middle, add cheese for some extra protein.
• Step 3: Carefully fold the wrap, ensuring it’s not too stuffed to roll.

The key lies in assembling the wraps with the perfect balance of flavours. So experiment with different combinations and discover your child’s favourite!

Cold Pasta Salads with Grilled Chicken

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A Cold Pasta Salad is another fantastic picnic lunch idea that’s both nutritious and enjoyable. It combines fresh, crunchy veggies and grilled chicken on a bed of whole-grain pasta dressed in a light olive oil dressing. This colourful salad is as appealing to the eye as it is to the taste buds and is often loved by kids and adults alike.

The preparation is straightforward. Cook the pasta al dente and cool it down. Grill and slice some chicken breast. Prepare an array of summer salads, including sliced cherry tomatoes, diced cucumbers, red onions, bell peppers, and steamed broccoli. Mix them and dress lightly with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.

This cold pasta salad is a wholesome, one-dish meal that serves up a great way of nutrients, ensuring your kids get their daily dose of protein, carbs, and colorful veggies.

Healthy Summer Snacks to Keep Kids Energized

Healthy snacks serve as fuel between meals, keeping the kids energized and happy. It’s essential to ensure these bites are both enjoyable and healthy. The right snack can provide essential nutrients and prevent overeating at mealtimes. Summer is a great time to introduce your kids to cool and refreshing snacks. Our list includes favourites like Frozen Yogurt Fruit Pops and Veggie Sticks with Zesty Hummus. These are delicious and a feast for the eyes, particularly popular among the little ones!

Frozen Yogurt Fruit Pops

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Frozen Yogurt Fruit Pops are a healthy rift on the traditional ice pops, without the added sugar. They are made of Greek yogurt and fresh fruits, providing essential nutrients along with a sweet frozen treat for extra nutrition.

To prepare, you will chop up some seasonal fruits into small pieces. Fill the popsicle moulds about half-way with yogurt. Layer fruits over the yoghurt and fill the remainder of the mould with more yogurt. Insert the popsicle sticks and freeze until solid.

This recipe is open to creativity. You can use any of your favourite fruits, mix different flavours of yoghurt or even add in some honey for an extra sweeter taste. With these minimal-ingredient popsicles, treat your child to a refreshing snack that takes care of their sweet tooth while being full of wholesome goodness!

Veggie Sticks with Zesty Hummus

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A classic, healthy snack for hot summer days is Veggie Sticks with Zesty Hummus. This snack option provides vitamins and fibre from raw veggies along with protein and heart-friendly fats from the hummus.

To prepare the veggie sticks, wash and slice raw vegetables like cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, and celery.

The zesty hummus can be easily made at home by blending together:

• 1 cup of canned chickpeas
• 2 tablespoons of tahini
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Salt according to taste

Garnish the hummus with a sprinkle of smoked paprika or chopped parsley for an extra zing!

Pair these nutrient-rich veggie sticks with homemade hummus for a quick snack that’s as tasty as it is nourishing. It’s an excellent way for your kid to enjoy their veggies while getting their required daily nutrients!

Quick and Easy Dinner Options for the Family

Dinner wraps up the day and should be a light, nutritious, and comforting meal. To make sure your little ones and toddlers enjoy their dinner, our suggestions include tasty and nourishing options like Grilled Veggie and Chicken Skewers, Healthy Fish Tacos, and Slow Cooker recipes. Apart from being easy to prepare, these delightful dinners guarantee satiation and a good night’s sleep. So let’s jump right into these savory delights!

Grilled Veggie and Chicken Skewers

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Grilled Veggie and Chicken Skewers are a fun and interactive dinner option that kids love! You can grill these on an outdoor grill or an indoor grill pan, making it perfect for any season, much like delicious hot dogs.

To start, marinate pieces of chicken breast in a mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper for at least 30 minutes. Assemble the skewers by alternately threading pieces of chicken, coloured bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and mushrooms on the skewers.

Grill the skewers until the chicken is well-cooked and the veggies are char-grilled.

This meal provides lean protein from the chicken and a rainbow of nutrients from the veggies. They can be served as-is or alongside a serving of quinoa or brown rice for a complete dinner.

Healthy Fish Tacos with Fresh Salsas

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Another family favourite for dinner is Healthy Fish Tacos. They are light, loaded with flavour, and can be customized to each family member’s liking.

You start by grilling pieces of your preferred fish, like cod, seasoned with salt, pepper, and lime juice. Prepare fresh salsa with diced avocado, tomatoes, cilantro, and red onion.

Assemble your tacos by spreading some sour cream or Greek yogurt on whole grain tortillas, layering the grilled fish, and finishing with a generous scoop of fresh salsa.

These tacos serve up necessary nutrients from the fish, complex carbs from the tortillas, and refreshing flavors from the fresh salsa. Simply perfect for a light summer dinner!

Summer Desserts That Won’t Spoil Your Kids’ Appetites

A sweet treat after dinner is always welcome by children! However, it’s crucial to ensure that desserts don’t get too heavy or overly sweet, especially during summertime. We introduce you to some delightful desserts, such as the Fruit Salad with a Twist and No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies. These desserts are not only appetizing but also make sure your child’s appetite for the main meals doesn’t wane. Take a look at these mouth-watering delights!

Fruit Salad with a Twist

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Fruit Salad with a Twist is a fascinating and delicious way to serve fresh fruits to your kids. It’s a healthy dessert that you can prepare in minutes and customize with your child’s favourite fruits.

Cut fruits like watermelon, strawberries, bananas, kiwis, and blueberries into bite-size pieces and mix them in a large bowl. Now comes the twist. Add a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a touch of sweetness and warmth. You can also add a few fresh mint leaves or a squeeze of limoncello for that extra zing!

This creative dessert is not only vibrant and inviting but also packed with vitamins, fibre, and antioxidants from the fruits. It’s a fantastic way to end a meal on a sweet and healthy note.

No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

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Our second dessert option is the No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies. These are soft, chewy, and chocolaty, and they are filled with the wholesome goodness of oats and nuts.

You need to melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in a saucepan. Once they’re silky smooth, stir in rolled oats, crushed nuts, and dried fruit. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto a tray lined with baking paper and chill until firm.

Here’s your cheat sheet for the cookies:

• 2 cups of chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup of coconut oil
• 3 cups of rolled oats
• 1/2 cup of crushed nuts
• 1/4 cups of dried fruit

These cookies are a fun treat to prepare together as a family, and trust us, they’ll disappear as quickly as they come together!

Tips for Making Summer Meals Kid-Friendly

When it comes to feeding kids, it’s not just about the food being nutritious and delicious. It’s also crucial that meals are appealing to their senses. We are here to provide some helpful tips to make summer meals more kid-friendly. The tricks involve using colorful ingredients and involving kids in the meal preparation process. So let’s explore these strategies which are surefire ways to spark their interest.

Using Colorful Ingredients to Attract Kids

“Eat your veggies” is a common refrain for many parents. But the sight of green veggies often gets a thumbs down from the little ones. A great way to make foods appealing to kids is by using colourful ingredients. Brightly coloured fruits and vegetables usually get a much better reception.

You can choose red bell peppers instead of green ones, golden corn, purple cabbage, or rainbow carrots. Fruits offer a spectrum of colours — yellow bananas, red strawberries, blueberries, and so on.

Not only do these colorful fruits and vegetables make dishes visually attractive, but they are also packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Incorporating this rainbow of foods not only enhances the nutritive value but also makes meals exciting and fun, adding many shades to the usually monochromatic meals.

Involving Kids in Meal Prep to Make Food More Appealing

Another efficient strategy for making summer meals more kid-friendly is involving them in the kitchen. When kids participate in cooking, they’re more likely to enjoy the food because they helped make it.

Here are some safe and entertaining ways for your children to be involved:

• Washing fruits and veggies: It’s easy and introduces kids to various fruits and vegetables.
• Mixing and stirring: Kids can help stir ingredients together, whether it’s a salad, a yogurt bowl, or scrambled eggs.
• Laying the table: Younger kids can place napkins, cutlery, and glasses, introducing them to table manners at an early age.

Involve your kids in the kitchen with tasks that are suitable for their age. This not only strengthens their relationship with food but can be a great bonding activity as well!

Conclusion

Remember that food, especially for kids, should not just be about nutrients and health. Yes, a balanced diet is essential, but feeding kids should also involve joy, colour, and fun. Summer meals from the kid’s site finder offer an excellent opportunity to experiment with various nutritious seasonal fruits, veggies, and outdoor grilling. The recipes we’ve shared today are easy to prepare, delicious, full of natural ingredients, and, most importantly, kid-approved. From refreshing breakfasts, hearty lunches and dinners, and healthy snacks to delightful desserts — your summer meal delivery and feeding dilemmas are taken care of. Enjoy these healthy recipes conveniently and make way for a stress-free, joyful summer. Remember, the secret ingredient is always love. Happy cooking!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some quick summer breakfast ideas for kids?

Colourful Smoothie Bowls and Fruit-Infused Overnight Oats are quick and loved by kids. They’re easy to prepare with ingredients like fresh fruits, Greek yogurt, and oats. Customizable toppings on smoothie bowls allow kids to play with flavours and Ingredients.

What are healthy snacks kids can enjoy during the summer?

Healthy summer snacks for kids include Frozen Yogurt Fruit Pops made from Greek Yogurt and fresh fruits. Veggie Sticks paired with Zesty Hummus provide essential vitamins from the vegetables and protein from the hummus, making them a very fulfilling snack.

Can you recommend easy summer dinner recipes that the whole family will enjoy?

Grilled Veggies, Chicken Skewers, and Healthy Fish Tacos are delicious and nutritious dinner options. These dishes offer lean proteins from chicken or fish, complex carbs from tortillas, and an array of nutrition from vegetables, making them ideal for a family dinner.

How can I make meals more appealing to kids during the hot summer?

Making meals appealing to kids during summer involves incorporating colourful ingredients and involving kids in meal prep. Using vibrant fruits and veggies can make dishes attractive, and when kids participate in cooking, they take more interest in what they eat.