Healthy Summer Snacks

Healthy snacks for summer that keep your caloric intake at 200 or below is the goal for many of us. The demands of my kids, work and home keep me so busy, however, my family needs to eat well to maintain a healthy energy level to keep going. I've thought of a few healthy snacks for summer that I offer to my kids as well as myself either at mid-morning or later in the afternoon to keep hunger at a minimum.

Monkey Shake

Using half a chunk of tofu with 1 banana and a tablespoon of cocoa make this shake a healthy treat at about 190 calories for a 8 ounce serving. Just add your favorite milk. Soy, almond, coconut, or traditional dairy milk are all good options for this tasty and satisfying summer treat. Just add a half a cup of ice to chill it as it blends.

Make Your Own Granola

Using a variety of dried fruits that could include things like papaya, pineapple, raisins, craisins, combined with perhaps a toasted oat and nut blend, you could create your own granola that satisfies your sweet tooth and hunger all at once. You could turn this into a nice cold cereal by using non-dairy milk, or cows milk as well.

Blended Berry Pops

How about blending a fresh or frozen mixed berry blend like raspberries and blueberries along with some almond milk, or perhaps buttermilk and some honey to taste, then poured in some ice cube trays for some tasty pop treats that the kids will love all summer long. Just pop them into the freezer in some ice pop molds for a treat later on.

Date Bars

These are a favorite of my kids. I combine some dates that I've soaked overnight, then drain them and add them to my food processor along with some raw sunflower seeds and coconut. Once they've gone through the processor, I spread the mixture out into a 13 X 9 baking pan and cut into bars. To finish it I top them with a sprinkle of coconut.

All of these summer snacks are things I put together without specific measurements, going by taste. You can customize these snacks to your own tastebuds as well.