Summer Holiday Snack Ideas
23rd July 2024
Summer Snack Ideas for the Kids
By Charlotte Stirling-Reed
In this blog I wanted to share a little bit more about snacks for kids, and give you some inspiration for snack ideas to give them this Summer.
Do kids NEED snacks?
Snacks are always a topic that causes confusion for families. Do they need them? How many should they have? What should they be snacking on?
The recommendations in the UK are that for children over the age of 1, they should be offered 3 meals and 2 snacks a day. This is a general recommendation that allows children to have plenty of opportunity to get the balance of nutrients and calories they need throughout the day.
This doesn’t mean that every child NEEDS to eat 3 meals and 2 snacks per day. All children are different, and some kids may have small appetites and need those snacks in between meals, whilst others may be quite happy to have large amounts at main meals.
What snacks should my kids have?
I always like to think of snacks as ‘mini-meals,’ to help you think about balance and including a variety of food groups. Ideally, aim to offer a snack that includes:
A starchy carbohydrate
A fruit/vegetable
A protein/iron rich food
This helps to make sure that snacks are balanced and filling, helping to keep them satisfied in-between meals.
5 snacks for the Summer
In the Summer, it’s likely that the kids want something light and also hydrating. Here are 5 balanced snack ideas that are ideal for the Summer.
Mini sandwiches
Sandwiches are an ideal quick and easy snack and a great way to get a little creative with the fillings. Some great filling ideas for summer are:
Tinned fish (tuna, salmon, mackerel) mixed with some yoghurt, lemon and sweetcorn
Cream cheese and cucumber
Hummus and red pepper
Nut butter and banana
Avocado and boiled egg
Crackers with nut butter, fruit & milled seeds
Crackers make for a simple base for snacks. Topping them with some nut butter, fruit and a sprinkle of milled seeds creates a well-balanced and more filling snack. Add a little yoghurt to the nut butter for a little extra hydration in the summer months.
Tortilla ‘chips’ and dip
It can be super simple to make homemade tortilla chips using just a wrap - use wholemeal wraps for a little extra fibre. Add some tomato salsa, yoghurt or avocado on the side for extra flavour, hydration and nutrients
Veg sticks and dip
A classic but simple and nutritious snack. You can use up whatever veg you have and vary up the dips you offer too. Cream cheese, yoghurt, mashed avocado and hummus are all good options. To opt for extra hydrating veg, try adding cucumber or celery.
Fruit skewers with yoghurt dip
This can be a really fun way to add some colour to your kid’s plate. Get them involved in choosing the fruit, and adding them to the skewer, if appropriate! Serve with a dip of yoghurt mixed with some nut butter.
Taking snacks on the go
It’s important to keep snacks cool if you’re going to be out for a long time, particularly in the warmer weather. A few things I like to pack when carrying snacks out and about are:
Freezer bags
Tupperware boxes
A mini cool bag
An ice pack
A lidded free-flowing water cup
I hope you’ve found this blog helpful, and helps with some ideas for your trips out and about this Summer!
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