School’s Out, and All They Do Is Eat!

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It’s summertime and school is out! For moms, that means the kids are home and they’re HUNGRY. As if meal planning, grocery shopping/ordering, food prep and cleanup weren’t enough on a daily basis, now you also have to contend with the energy-sapping Alabama heat and humidity. Here is a list of summer snacks that your kids can grab or you can throw at them, your choice:

  • Crackers (Cheez-Its, Goldfish, oyster, animal, graham, PB, Ritz, Club, Wheat Thins, Triscuits, even croutons!)
  • Cookies (vanilla wafers, Oreos, no-bake, chocolate chip, monster, oatmeal, peanut butter, Teddy Grahams)
  • Fruit (bananas, apple slices, watermelon spears, frozen grapes, prunes, fruit cups, applesauce pouches)
  • Vegetables (sugar snap peas, baby carrots, bell pepper strips – all pair well with hummus or veggie dip)
  • Cheese (string, slices, cubes, wheels, cream cheese spread)
  • Meats (pepperoni, salami, deli meats, beef jerky, sausage sticks, hard boiled eggs)
  • Frozen (pop ice, ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, smoothies, shakes)
  • Trail mix (granola, nuts, raisins, dried fruit, M&Ms, baking chips)
  • Snack mix (dry cereal, crackers, pretzels, M&Ms)
  • Baked goods (muffins, cupcakes, banana bread, cinnamon rolls, Rice Krispies Treats, Pop-Tarts, biscuits, protein and energy bars)

My favorite way to serve snacks is on a platter. I choose three or four items and put them in sections and then set it on the kitchen table for my four kids to graze on. My kids are 6 and under so this works well. Older kids may like having a snack bowl or drawer that they can access at will.

What’s For Lunch?

It’s good to consider your child’s stage of development when you are strategizing meals too. Can they get breakfast and/or lunch for themselves? Can they help a younger sibling get their meal? Can they assist or take over the planning and prep for a family meal once a week or more? The summer is a great time for kids and teens to learn kitchen and meal prep skills, so don’t feel like you have to be a full-time chef. Here are some quick meal ideas that your kids may be able to handle themselves:

  • Leftovers (casseroles, spaghetti, pizza, soup, stir fry)
  • Sandwiches (PB, turkey, ham, chicken salad, tuna, grilled cheese, subs, wraps, pitas, burgers, Hot Pockets)
  • Pizza Roll Ups (can be cooked in the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer)
  • Bean and cheese burritos
  • Salads (pasta, tossed, chopped, make ahead in Mason Jars)
  • Charcuterie (pick 3 or 4 items off the snack list and call it a meal!)
  • Omelets
  • Frito pie (corn chips, canned chili, shredded cheese; add chopped onions and jalapenos if you’d like. I like to wrap mine in a flour tortilla like they do at Sonic!)
  • Mini corn dogs (or full-size)
  • Quesadillas (just cheese or add chicken, pulled pork, etc. We also like a pizza version!)

You can make a “boring” meal interesting by changing the scenery. Throw down a blanket in the yard or the living room for an easy picnic, or take it on the road to a park, playground, pool, or friend’s house. Sometimes in the summer, my mom would plan theme days and our meals and snacks would coincide with the theme. Your theme could be the Olympics (international dishes or sports themed), backwards day (eat dessert for breakfast or to start your family meal), or Letter of the Day (all foods start with the same letter). Here’s a list of obscure holidays to give you more theme ideas. Bon appétit!