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As the final gong at school heralds the beginning of summer vacations, so too children spend more time playing outdoors, host playdates and hanker for snacks at all odd hours of the day. Prepare delicious and simultaneously nourishing small bites for children that satiate them yet are never so filling that they skip their main meals.
And more interestingly, turn snack-making into a fun and engaging summertime activity in which the children can participate safely. This will also be a great way to bond with the kids at home while inculcating basic cooking skills and healthy eating habits in them.
Fruit Yoghurt Parfaits
One of the brightest and most colourful snacks to prepare during summers is a fresh fruit and yoghurt parfait. This summertime small bite is quite healthy and nourishing, especially when it is prepared using ripe, seasonal produce. Place chunks of mangoes, bananas and berries in small cups with a yoghurt base and top this off with crushed granola. Kids can help in crafting bright fruity layers on top of the yoghurt and sprinkling the granola and a honey drizzle garnish over the parfait cups. Bright, refreshing and fun to prepare, chill the parfaits for a couple of hours in the fridge before serving them as afternoon snacks.
Mini Vegetable Sandwiches
Cold sandwiches or untoasted bread stuffed with myriad fresh and crispy veggies are interesting snack options for a summer evening. Add crispy lettuce, cucumbers, fresh tomatoes and even a diced hard boiled egg to a sandwich lathered in butter and some mint chutney. As you butter and season the bread slices with chutney, kids can layer them with veggies of their choice and sprinkle salt and pepper over the assembled stuffing. The grown-ups can trim the crusts off the sandwiches before serving them with bright pink lemonade.
Frozen Banana Popsicles
Another creative, nourishing summertime treat, banana pops covered in chocolate are quite an attractive summertime treat for children. In fact, kids gathered for a playdate can turn making banana pops into a fun collaborative activity. All they need to do is insert banana wedges into skewers and dip them in melted chocolate. Chopped nuts and sprinkles can be used as garnishes over the treats. The chocolate-coated bananas can be tossed in the freezer to turn them into popsicle-like snacks savoured in the early evening.
Sweet Corn Chaat
A snack beloved by all children, sweet corn chaat is actually quite easy to prepare. Grown-ups can simply place all ingredients in front of the little ones including buttered corn, chopped onions and fresh coriander and seasonings such as pink salt, black pepper, chaat masala and chilli powder along with lime juice. The kids can then simply mix their own chaat cups according to their flavour preferences. Keep the seasonings in handy sprinkle bottles to avoid spilling or the risk of the spicy seasonings coming into direct contact with their palms. Tangy, crunchy and full of fibre, a tasty sweet corn chaat can be a quick on-the-go bite that kids can make and eat by themselves in between two play sessions.
No-Bake Energy Bites
Bring together oats, peanut butter, honey, chopped nuts and lots of cocoa powder in a bowl. Mix all ingredients and turn them into small, bite-sized balls which children can munch on during the day. Dates tossed in ghee can also be added to the energy bites for better binding. The kids can help out in rolling the mixture into little balls and coating it in toasted sesame or desiccated coconut before arranging on little trays for freezing. The chilled treats can be stored in the fridge in little mason jars as quick bites for summer playtime.
