Healthy Summer Snacks

 

Summer’s all about eating fresh! You have an abundance of fruit just sitting in the crisper, but what’s a gal to do with them all? We’ve got a few tasty snack ideas that are easy to put together, and perfect for the whole family.

 

4 easy-to-make fruity treats
During the summer, we prefer to go easy on the cooking and baking. Time spent over a hot stove is replaced by eating raw foods, as well as simply enjoying a cold piece of fruit as a snack. In fact, summer is when we eat more fruit than any other time of year, thanks to the abundance of sweet offerings that are in season during the warmer months. But instead of simply grabbing an apple on the go, or sitting down with a bowl of strawberries, we’ve got a few simple ways you can give your favourite fruit a bit of an edge. Best of all, they require little to no extra effort in the prep department. So what are you waiting for? Start snacking!
  

Honey-Drizzled Apple Slices This writer had the chance to try this simple snack while vacationing in Greece earlier this summer. After a rich meal of grilled meats, fried cheese and plenty of wine, an über-light dessert was appreciated. What arrived at the table were cold apple wedges, drizzled with honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon—likely a healthy substitute for the country’s popular deep-fried loukoumades. Sweet, refreshing and absolutely guilt-free! As a healthy addition, sprinkle on some antioxidant-rich crushed walnuts. As for optimal apple varieties, go for a sweet type, such as Fuji or Gala.

Frozen Grapes From their sweet flavour to that light crunch when we bite into them, grapes truly are the perfect no-fuss snack. And to take advantage of their many health benefits—they’re rich in antioxidants, high in fiber, and low on the glycemic index, among others—we enjoy them any way we can, including frozen! Simply rinse them in cold water, pat them lightly with a paper towel (some excess dew is recommended—it gives the grapes a light frost), pop them into a zip-seal bag, and leave them in the freezer overnight. The next morning, you’ll have a cold, crunchy and tasty snack. And if you prefer sweet over tangy, opt for red or black grapes rather than green.

Melon Kebabs Summer is melon season, and it’s only natural to take advantage of these fresh, juicy fruits while they’re available. Watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe are three of the most popular varieties, and each boasts its respective health benefits. In particular, they each have a high water content and are fibre-rich, making for a super low-cal snack that is also very satiating. A great way to enjoy them is by combining all three together: use a melon baller to scoop out the fruit, and arrange the balls onto wooden skewers. They make for a pretty arrangement, too—perfect for the final few backyard parties of the season!

Frozen Banana Pops              This snack may fall on the more decadent end of the spectrum, but it sure beats sugar-laced, store-bought pops. Peel the bananas, cut them in half, insert a pop stick, and let freeze overnight. Then dip the frozen fruit in melted baking chocolate, followed by a quick roll in some crushed peanuts—or even pistachios, shaved coconut, and sprinkles—before the chocolate has a chance to harden. When frozen, the banana takes on a yummy, creamy texture that rivals that of ice cream. For an even healthier alternative, dip the bananas in plain, low-fat Greek yogourt instead, and roll them in granola. Freeze again so that the yogourt can set, and you’ve got the perfect summer treat on a stick!