7 Yummy Summer Snacks

I'm in NYC right now, and all I can think about during these warm days of filming is a cool, refreshing snack. So I decided to share a few of my favorites. We all know that when the weather heats up, your appetite doesn't always follow.  We often crave things that are light and refreshing, cool and light, and several things come to mind that are yummy and easy prepare. Here is my happy list…

7 Summer Snacks for the whole family

  
1. Frozen fruit. Almost anything can go into the freezer and suddenly become more exciting. (Well except avocado…learned that the hard way.) Fruit takes on an exciting new face once frozen. I just did this with Cherries and the kids had a field day! Other great ones are grapes, blueberries and peaches. You can even add these to a regular fruit salad and it immediately more refreshing. 
2. Smoothie. If I could live at Jamba Juice in the summertime, it would be perfect, but until they give me the key, I’ve got my blender. Adding ice to almost anything in a blender makes it taste magical. You can also add boosts or things to brighten up any meal with fruits and veggies, like Vitamix (a favorite of my husbands). Add kale, beets, pineapple, mango, dates, anything you like that packs a punch and get lots of vitamins into your family’s diet.
3. Skewers. This snack is not only fun to eat but also fun to assemble. It’s a great treat that the kids can help create. Add any fruit, veggie, or precooked meat you can get your hands on and simply skewer away. There can be sweet, savory or any combination of this perfect BBQ addition. You can even sprinkle with coconut or drizzle with chocolate and turn them into a dessert.
4. Yogurt pops. If you have popsicle trays, simply replace the juice with yogurt! Any yogurt works, even Greek. The yogurt packs a powerful punch when it comes to energy (yay protein.) 
5. Peanut butter/coconut balls. There are many recipes on the web so choose the one that you or your kids’ will love, and make a double batch! They’re small and yummy and protein packed. You can use peanut, almond or sunflower seed butter, accommodating any taste. (And of course, you can keep them in the fridge for a more refreshing bite!) 
6. Dried Fruit. Fruit in any form is refreshing, included the dried variety. Add dried fruit to any salad and it suddenly feels like summer Again, strawberries, raspberries and peaches are a great option with a refreshing vinaigrette.
7. Homemade ice cream sandwiches. Obviously this doesn’t fall into the “healthy” category, but it sure does fall into the “happy” category! These are so easy to make and the impact on the party is HUGE! I use the bag mix for cookies and make sure to under cook them slightly. Then, I wait until they cool and scoop in a generous helping of ice cream. Finally, I individually wrap them in cellophane. Get creative with cookie type and ice cream flavor!

Hope these yummy treats just hit the spot this summer. Enjoy!