The dog days of summer are here, and with this week’s forecast of 85+ every day, the last thing you want to do is turn on the oven or eat something hot! Here I have compiled a list of refreshing, Bento Box and kid-approved treats that kids also like to prepare themselves. My three and five year old were thoroughly entertained in the kitchen with these simple recipes. And it’s true what they say, when kids prepare their food they are more likely to eat it, and I can feel good knowing that these treats are delicious and nutritious.
Watermelon Slushie:
One seedless watermelon
1 lime
Cut watermelon into cubes and blend, adding the juice from one lime.
Put into a bowl and freeze two hours or until it starts to freeze, add to fun cups and garnish with watermelon.
Watermelon is so easy to slice my kids used their Melissa and Doug wooden kitchen knives and thought that they were so cool, I just let them take all that extra time to slice and dice! Watermelon is so fresh and juicy this time of year that I placed newspaper underneath to soak up the juice from running off the counter top.
Banana Chocolate Chip Bites:
Several ripe (soft) bananas
1 tsp. vanilla
Half a bag of chocolate chips
Mash bananas in a bowl and add vanilla and a half a bag of chocolate chips. I used mini dark chocolate chips. Freeze until solid.
You can also make fun shapes with candy silicone ice cube trays. I recently purchased a Bento food slicer kit and we have been having an absolute blast being creative with our food. Of course mom and dad’s plate doesn’t look as scrumptious as theirs, and thank goodness our dog loves peanut butter and jelly scraps!
Apple Oat No-Bake Bites (Allergy-Free)
One cup cooked fresh apples or applesauce
½ c peanut butter or almond butter – use almond butter to make peanut-free or tahini for entirely nut-free
2 cups rolled oats (minced in the food processor)
Mix all ingredients into a bowl and roll heaping tablespoons full into balls, works as a good motor gross skill, teaching young ones to roll and place the oats on a tray! Refrigerate for 30 minutes- Enjoy! Can also be frozen!
Healthy Fruit Mini Pizza
Medium whole wheat tortillas or crackers
Black or red raspberries, Mandarin oranges, kiwi, strawberries, grapes, or whichever fresh fruit your heart desires
¾ tablespoon orange juice
1 tsp honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup Greek yogurt
Grab a drinking glass to get started and punch out a few mini rounds from a tortilla and set them aside.
In a bowl mix ½ cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt, 1 tsp. honey, ½ tsp. vanilla extract, ¾ tbsp. orange juice.
Top tortillas with Greek yogurt mixture and fresh fruit.
Yogurt Dipped Banana Ghosts
Bananas
Greek yogurt
Chocolate chips
Popsicle sticks
Cut bananas in half and dip into vanilla Greek yogurt and insert the popsicle stick.
Add chocolate chip eyes or sprinkles.
Place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and freeze 1 hour.
I hope your little ones enjoy preparing and enjoying these tasty treats as much as our family! A few of these recipes were even dog tested, and vet-approved – minus the chocolate morsels of course!
