They are out of school for the summer, and running around playing all day long makes the kiddoes hungry! Letting them help out in the kitchen and whipping up some healthy snacks is a fun way to spend time together.

You can make these easy treats in the hot afternoon and they will be ready for the next day when the hunger monster hits!

A terrific treat for hot summer days is a frozen banana popsicle. Buy bananas that are just ripe so they are firm. If you have several children, you can set up an assembly line for this project, going oldest to youngest!

Break the banana in half, and insert the popsicle stick into the flat end. Dip it in sweet strawberry yogurt and roll in crushed vanilla wafer crumbs. Freeze on a waxed paper covered plate overnight. This will keep you cool the next day!

Another no-cook snack that gives a little protein boost is peanut butter cookies. Measure two cups of rice krispies, one cup of peanut butter, a half-cup of sweet molasses, a quarter cup high-grade dry milk powder and two tablespoons of wheat germ. (This can double as a math lesson - see how each ingredient is half as much as the one before? How neat!)

Mix thoroughly, chill for an hour and turn out on wax paper on the table. Let the kids dip their hands in powdered sugar and roll little balls. This treat can be kept in a cool place or in the fridge for an on the run snack!

You can precut fresh veggies and let the children arrange them on a plate, and buy the ingredients for dip instead of ready-made so they can mix it up. For a fun twist, add a few drops of food coloring to the dip! For an exciting beverage, add a little club soda to 100% fruit juice and let them peel orange segments to float in it.

Helping your kids eat healthy all summer can be fun, and they will be more inclined to make good food choices if you let them chip in and make it themselves!

Eating with your kids is the best way to teach them about health! Together you can learn what foods are good for you, and your children will thank you later for teaching them healthy eating habits.

Today we see a lot of overweight children, and a lot of this has to do with the food choices we offer our kids. A little junk food is OK, but we need to make sure they are getting good nutrition and exercise!

As parents, our best way to lead is by example. If our children see us eating properly, they will as well. Making sure we all get to sit down together for meals is a great way to combine healthy food and family time!

Organic foods are a wonderful way to make sure your kids are getting the best nutrition possible. If you have a organic foods store near you, make it a special trip with your kids, and encourage them to pick out something new to try. Look for a fun cookbook with creative recipes you and your kids can make together.

Vegetables are probably the greatest challenge when it comes to getting the proper foods into your child’s diet. You can hide them in meatloaf, soups, and casseroles, and even sneak them into their beverages: I always keep V-8 Splash on hand and my kids love the mixed flavor of carrot and berries!

A great snack for you and your kids is all kinds of veggies cut in very thin sticks served with a homemade dip. Carrots, broccoli, zucchini, all kinds of veggies can be used and make a nice tray to keep in the fridge. Let your kids arrange them on a plate in a special design!

If you spend time cooking and eating with your children, you can talk about healthy eating choices and teach them how good food makes their mind and body strong!