10 “Cool” Snacks For Children

By Chef Selwyn Richards
Culinary Specialist

Some places can be quite hot, depending upon where you live, and perhaps you don’t want to give your children ice cream, when they ask for something sweet and cool. Try these cool snacks for your kids.

Peel and freeze bananas. These can be used as a treat by themselves or added to fruit smoothies.

Homemade sorbet is easy to make. For instance, if you love strawberries, you can puree the strawberries; add some water, a little bit of sugar, lemon juice and a package of unflavored gelatin. Use an ice cream maker to complete the recipe.

Make veggie sticks easy to eat by chopping them finely and keeping the pieces small. Store them in water in the fridge overnight (in a sealed jar), then drain them on paper towel when ready to serve.

Homemade popsicles can be made with 100% fruit juice. You can also make them using powdered drink mixes.

A fruit juice spritzer is a good alternative to serving your kids a full glass of pop. Add 100% juice, whatever kind you like best, to ginger ale or other clear soft drink. Add ice to cool the drink down. You can also put the mixture in the blender and create a slushy with it.

Brown cows, or ice cream floats, are also a cool snack you might want to give your children. Fill a glass three quarters of the way with your child’s favorite soft drink. Then add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy.

Buy a large container of yogurt in your favorite flavor. Spoon the yogurt into an ice cube tray and then cover it with plastic wrap. Poke a popsicle stick or tooth pick into the plastic. Place these in the freezer and allow them to freeze. You can add pieces of chopped up fruit if you want to add a special treat.

Cut up a variety of melons and keep them in the refrigerator for a quick cool snack at any time. To make the snack more appealing, allow the children to use cookie cutters to make shapes out of them.

Make a batch of cookies. When they have cooled entirely, place a scoop of softened ice cream onto one cookie and then place another on top. This will make a wonderful ice cream sandwich.

Orange and vanilla is a wonderful combination. Add orange juice to a blender and then place a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You’ll have made a liquid dreamsicle that is much healthier than the traditional version.

Prepare these 10 “cool” snacks for your kids the next time they ask for a snack. These snacks will help them cool down and be enjoyable at the same time.

Selwyn Richards is an award-winning master chef. He is also the President and Executive Chef at The Art of Catering Inc. and is the author of “The Art of Cooking: Soul of The Caribbean”. Chef Selwyn can be reached at: selwyn@theartofcatering.com or by phone — (905) 619-1059.