It’s summertime and kids are out of school and ready to sleep in until the late hours of the morning, hang out with friends at the park, and not have to worry about homework, assignments or quizzes! For parents, this means a logistical dance of arranging daycare, day camps and other arrangements to fit all of that newfound freedom into an already busy family schedule. But if keeping your kid’s hungry bellies full while they’re on the go is something that’s on your mind, check out these five low sugar summer snack ideas that are sure to please!
Low Sugar Summer Snack Ideas for Hungry Kids
Here are our five low sugar summer snack ideas to keep your kids happy and healthy this summer vacation:
- (Some) Fruit, Vegetables & Dip – While we’d love to start with a mountain of juicy and delicious fruit, many fruits do contain higher levels of natural sugars. We all have naturally occurring bacteria in our mouths that feed on sugar and produce acids that can erode our teeth if not taken care of properly, so a moderate amount of fruit is a good start. Apples, strawberries and watermelon are usually crowd pleasers. Complement those with some baby carrots, celery sticks and snap peas and pop in a container of peanut or almond butter for dipping and you’ll be well on your way!
- Crackers & Cheese – With a huge variety of snack crackers at your favourite grocery store and some delicious cheeses, whipping together a crackers-and-cheese snack can be quick and easy. The bonus? The carbs in the crackers can provide some quick energy while the protein in the cheese can provide some longer-term fuel. Just a heads-up, though: sliced cheese doesn’t do well if left in warm environments for a long time, so if you’re packing a snack for hours later, throw in an ice pack to keep everything cool and fresh.
- Seeds & Nuts – Seeds and nuts are another protein powerhouse that can be a good source of energy if your kids are doing a lot of physical activities. There are lots of different shapes, sizes and textures out there, and even a bunch of sweet and savoury flavour additions, so finding one that your munchkin can munch on should be easy. Bulk food stores are a great option to try a bunch of different types.
- Frozen Yoghurt Pops – Frozen yoghurt pops are a perfect snack on a hot summer day. Some of the store bought versions can be pretty high in sugar, but you can easily make your own low-sugar version that your kids will love: mix frozen berries in with unflavoured Greek yoghurt, fill popsicle molds and pop them in the freezer. A couple of hours later you’ll have some low-sugar popsicle treats your kids will love!
- Energy Bites – These take a little bit more time and preparation, but energy bites pack delicious and nutritious ingredients into bite-size nuggets perfect for mid-morning or mid-afternoon snacks. This delicious looking recipe for chocolate peanut butter no-bake energy bites can be whipped up in 15 minutes.
Don’t Forget the Water!
While all of these low sugar summer snack ideas will keep your kid’s bellies full and give them the energy they need to have a great summer, make sure you always pack plenty of water!
Staying hydrated – and especially when the weather gets hot, sticky and humid – is important for their health, but drinking plenty of water also help flush leftover food particles and potentially harmful acids out of their mouths to help protect their young teeth and gums.
Summer vacation is upon us and part of the logistical tap-dancing parents need to do is to make sure their kids are well fed. Fruit, vegetables, dip, crackers, cheese, nuts, frozen yoghurt and energy bites are some great low sugar summer snack ideas that will help keep your little one full of energy and ready to enjoy their summer break. Orion Dental offers a full range of dental services for the entire family and we specialize in taking care of little one’s oral health. If you’re looking for a family dentist to help, call our Milton dental office at 905.636.9770 or our Scarborough dental office at 416.291.0306 and book an appointment!
