Healthy Snacks
Watermelon Whole Fruit Popsicles
Cool down this summer with delicious, homemade fruit popsicles! These are so fun and simple to make, and by adding in pieces of whole fruit, these healthy treats become so beautiful and irresistible! You can make homemade popsicles so many ways! You can puree whole fruit and pour it into molds, use any type of freshly pressed juice, or use mixtures of coconut milk or Greek yogurt and fresh fruit purees swirled together. You can easily add in whatever fruit you have on your counter by just slicing them up, placing them into the molds, and then filling them up the rest of the way with a puree, yogurt, or juice!
Ingredients
3 cups watermelon puree (about ¼ to ½ a watermelon)
½ cup fresh blueberries
½ cup chopped fresh strawberries
1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
1 peach or nectarine, diced small
handful fresh cherries, pitted and chopped
Optional: You can replace the watermelon puree with honeydew melon or cantaloupe puree. Use any fruit you prefer or have on hand.
Instructions
Cut the watermelon into chunks and then puree it in a blender until smooth. Set aside.
Set out about 1 dozen popsicle molds (amount needed will vary depending on size of molds).
Fill each one with the chopped fresh fruit.
Then pour in the watermelon puree until each mold is full to the top.
Place a popsicle stick into each one.
Place into your freezer and freeze for about 6 to 8 hours.
When ready to serve, run the popsicle molds under warm water for a few seconds and then pull each one out. Enjoy!
Tip: Don't forget to use seedless watermelon! Play around with contrasting colors to makes the popsicles look extra pretty.
Oven Baked Egg Bites
We believe that eggs are a real super-food. They’re packed with nutrients and incredibly versatile. You can cook them dozens of ways, but this is our new favorite! These are close to poached, but so much easier to make and they come out as perfect little individual bites, with the whites set firm enough to hold in your hand, but when you slice into them, the yolk is still nice and oozy. These nifty little self-contained egg bites are super easy to pack up and take with you and make the perfect little snack!
Ingredients:
Eggs
Non-stick spray or muffin baking cups
Salt/pepper to taste
Optional: Garlic salt
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Spray muffin tin with non stick spray or line with baking cups.
Crack eggs into tin and season with salt and pepper.
Bake for 15-17 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool, then serve and enjoy!
Tip: You can store in containers in the fridge for quick grab and go snacks.
Tip: If you have picky eaters who would prefer not having the oozy yolk, then simply scramble the egg before putting in the muffin tin (as shown in the photo)! You can also easily add ingredients to make this tasty snack even better - mix in chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese, chopped spinach, cooked bacon or ham, or more!
Apple Slice Cookies
You’re thinking to yourself, “Those are NOT cookies!” And before we tried them, we were hesitant to give them that title too. But you know what? These apple slice cookies taste AMAZING. Seriously. They also have two very important benefits over regular cookies – 1. They’re actually good for you! And, 2. You don’t have to bake them, so they’re super quick to throw together.
Ingredients
1 apple, sliced and cored (Red Delicious apples hold up really well)
¼ cup peanut butter or almond butter
¼ cup almonds, sliced
¼ cup walnuts, chopped
¼ cup shredded coconut
¼ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Lemon Juice (optional)
Tip: You want a nice, firm apple. Red Delicious apples hold up really well without bending or flexing, even when sliced into thin pieces.
Instructions
Cut the core from the apple (or cut out the cores from each piece after slicing).
Slice the apple into 1/4 inch slices using a large knife.
Optional - If you're worried about the apples turning brown, place the slices in a zip lock bag and toss with a squirt of lemon juice.
Set each of the apple slices onto a sheet of paper towel and blot the tops dry with another paper towel, to soak out any excess moisture. This will make it easier to get the peanut butter to stick.
Spread a layer of peanut butter on each apple slice.
Then top with a generous amount of coconut flakes, and some walnuts and mini chocolate chips.
Serve and enjoy!
Tip: Slice the apples into ¼ inch slices using a large, sharp knife. The larger the knife, the better control you’ll have and you’ll be able to slice through the apple without ruining your slice.
Optional: There are endless ways to make these! If your kids are picky, start by topping the apple slices with just peanut butter and fruit that they regularly enjoy, like blueberries, strawberries, or banana chunks!
Frozen Yogurt Buttons
These are a perfect little healthy snack that kids love! These little frozen yogurt buttons are cold and creamy, and make the perfect treat. They are easy to make and put a nice twist on eating yogurt the regular way with a spoon.
Ingredients
Any flavor of non-fat Greek yogurt (or plain yogurt if you prefer)
Instructions
Fit a small zip top plastic bag over a cup, to help hold the bag in place, and spoon the yogurt in.
Snip one corner of the bag and pipe onto cookie sheets. For easy removal, line the cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper.
Place in the freezer and leave for 1 hour, or until completely hard and frozen.
Scrape off using an off using a spatula and place in an air tight container.
Store in the freezer until ready to serve!
FRIED HONEY BANANAS
These simple pan-fried bananas are caramelized in honey and cinnamon for a simple and delicious treat. You can enjoy them as is, put them over Greek yogurt, oatmeal, or pancakes, french toast, or even put them in a peanut butter sandwich! They’re really easy, take less than 10 minutes to make, and only involve five ingredients.
Ingredients
2 slightly under-ripened bananas
1 tablespoon coconut oil (olive oil, butter, or another neutral oil works too!)
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
Remove the peels from the bananas and slice them ¼ to ½ inch thick.
Set a nonstick skillet over medium to medium high heat and add the oil or butter, honey, cinnamon, and water. Stir to combine.
Fry bananas for 2-3 minutes on each side, occasionally lifting to prevent sticking, until golden and caramelized. Be sure to watch the heat and turn it down if it browns too quickly. You want enough heat to caramelize and brown the slices, but you don’t want them to burn.
Once the bananas are cooked, allow them a minute to cool, and then you can enjoy them as is or pair them over oatmeal, Greek yogurt, or pancakes, or put them in a peanut butter sandwich!
Tip: You want bananas that are ripe, but still firm. No black spots on the peel.
Veggie Roll-Ups
Sometimes presenting veggie snacks in a more fun way the kids are more likely to eat them, and this is a great snack that kids can help prepare themselves! This is a fun, healthy, and versatile kid-friendly snack that you can put together in no time. These can be made using all types of veggies - we suggest going for veggies your kids normally like and then throw in something that they may not eat as often.
Ingredients
4 whole wheat tortillas
4 oz plain or whipped cream cheese
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ cup shredded cheese
½ small red bell pepper, finely diced
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 cucumber, cut into long thin slices (seeds removed) (won’t need all)
1 carrot, grated
1 small crown of broccoli, finely diced
Instructions
Lay out the whole wheat tortillas and use a spatula to add a light layer of cream cheese in an even layer, all the way to the edges.
Sprinkle ¼ of the black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder over the cream cheese on the four tortillas.
Evenly sprinkle your chopped veggies and cheese over the tortillas.
Tightly roll up the tortillas with the filling on the inside. Wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap.
Place tortillas in fridge and chill for at least 1 hour before removing plastic wrap and slicing into pinwheels about 1/2-inch thick. Best served the same day.
Optional: Try sprinkling some dried chives, dried dill, and/or dried parsley for different flavors
Tip: If you have picky eaters, try chopping up the veggies fairly small and we bet they’ll be more likely to eat them.
Watermelon Pizza
There is nothing like a good slice of refreshing watermelon on a hot day - which is often in South Mississippi! While a regular slice of watermelon is perfectly good, it’s also fun to spice it up sometimes. This watermelon pizza will quench your thirst, is loaded with electrolytes, has some added protein from the yogurt, and is then topped with vitamin-rich fruit. The recipe is fun, easy to make with endless options, healthy, and is guaranteed to be a hit among everyone. Anytime the word “pizza” is used in a sentence, you know kids are going to love it!
Ingredients
1 watermelon
1 cup Greek yogurt
½ cup strawberries, sliced in half
½ cup raspberries
½ cup cherries
½ cup blueberries
½ cup pomegranate seeds
Optional: garnish with fresh mint, toasted coconut, honey, or maple syrup
Instructions
Using a sharp knife, cut off a slice of watermelon right down the middle, about 1-2 inches thick.
Using a spatula, spread an even layer of your yogurt around the watermelon leaving a bit of empty space at the edges (where your “pizza crust” is).
Layer your fresh fruit on top as you please. You can add as little or as many toppings as you like!
Drizzle with honey or maple syrup for a little extra sweetness if desired.
Step it up: In a small bowl, mix ½ cup ricotta, ¼ cup softened cream cheese, 1 tablespoon honey, and ½ teaspoon vanilla together until combined and use as the spread!
Granola Balls
These are so easy to make and the ingredients are truly endless! It’s basically granola with almond butter, pretzels, and dried fruit in a ball form. What makes these so fun are their little snack size and obviously their delicious taste! They’re soft, yet crunchy at the same time, easily making them another kid favorite. By adding crushed pretzels and a dried fruit, they will have a great sweet and salty thing going on!
INGREDIENTS
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup ground flax seed
½ cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter (or almond butter)
⅓ cup honey or agave nectar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional: ½ cup crispy rice cereal or crushed pretzels; 2 teaspoons coconut oil; ½ cup dried fruit
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine all the ingredients together in a large bowl, mixing gently so the crispy rice cereal doesn't get crushed. Mix until well-combined.
Using a cookie scoop (or just roll small amounts in your hands), drop rounded tablespoonful-sized portions onto a parchment/wax paper lined cooking sheet.
Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. At this point you can serve them or combine the chilled granola bites in a large container or Ziploc bags to freeze or refrigerate. They will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week or for a few months in the freezer.
Feel free to play around with the amounts, increasing or decreasing ingredients, adding dried fruit, coconut, pretzels, coconut oil, etc. Just remember to keep an eye on the consistency, so that they still form a mixture that sticks together when formed into balls.