When the temperatures rise and the pencils and backpacks are replaced by popsicles and sleepovers, it can only mean one thing: Summer has arrived. Once you have your little one enrolled in summer camp, there’s only one thing left to do—pack their lunch boxes full of fun and tasty treats!
Aside from the standard fruit snacks and cheese sticks, what are some exciting yet simple snacks that’ll put a smile on their faces and nutrients in their tummies?
Grab your grocery list as we dive into 9 snacks for summer camp, guaranteed to delight your kiddos throughout every adventure. Be sure to remember ice packs to keep their lunches fresh in the summer heat!
#1 Kid-Approved Trail Mix
This healthy snack packs a crunchy punch, and you can mix and match flavors to your little one’s content. Here are a few healthy mix-ins to consider adding to their trail mix:
- Cheerios
- Mini pretzels
- Nut-free options, like sunflowers or pumpkin seeds
- M&Ms
- Raisins
- Freeze-dried fruits
#2 Hummus and Pita Dippers
Chickpeas are full of fiber, potassium, iron and B vitamins, making hummus a healthy and satisfying snack that keeps children full until the next craving arrives.
If you’re in a rush, you can opt for a pre-packaged hummus and pita or pretzel combo. You can also buy a variety of their favorite hummus flavors, mini pitas, and other dippers, then surprise their taste buds with different pairings throughout the week each time you prepare their summer camp lunch.
For an extra ounce of fun, use cookie cutters to cut their pitas into creative shapes!
#3 Fruit Kabobs
These colorful summer camp snacks are another choose-your-own-adventure that you can mix up from day to day. From bananas and strawberries to melons and kiwis, simply slice up your children’s fruit of choice and slide them down a bamboo skewer. Easy peasy! For extra credit, you can also include a container of yogurt for them to dip their kabobs in.
#4 Banana Sushi
Don’t worry, no fish were harmed in the making of this sweet treat. In fact, it’s so easy that you’ll only need the following ingredients:
- One banana
- A whole-wheat tortilla
- Flavored cream cheese
To make your pseudo-sushi, spread the cream cheese across the entire tortilla. Then, place a peeled banana onto one edge of the tortilla, wrapping the tortilla around it until it’s entirely rolled up. Finally, slice the roll into sushi-sized pieces for your pint-sized human to enjoy. This is one of the best snack ideas for parents who are looking to make healthier options for their picky eater.
#5 Yogurt Parfait Jars
Yogurt is full of healthy fats and protein, so it’s the ideal ingredient to keep hungry children full for a long period. To make this healthy snack even more enticing for young campers, try layering their favorite yogurt with other tasty (and nutritious) toppings, such as:
- Granola
- Fresh berries
- Pomegranate seeds
- Chocolate chips
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Chia seeds
#6 Bento Boxes
If your little camper prefers grazing, you can pack them a variety of snacks in the form of a bento box. This compartmentalized meal container allows you to easily pack several different goodies at once (perfect for kiddos who don’t like their foods touching) and is perfect for snack time.
You can fill each compartment with some of their favorite healthy summer snacks, such as:
- Chopped veggies or fruit
- Sweet yogurt or yogurt-based ranch for dipping
- Mini cookies
- Cheese cubes
- Crackers
- Lunch meat
#7 Ants on a Log
If you attended summer camp as a kid, you might have had the pleasure of carefully creating this snacktime masterpiece for yourself. If not, it’s never too late to learn and pass on the tradition to your children.
To make ants on a log, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Celery sticks
- Cream cheese
- Raisins or another dried fruit
With your ingredients in hand, follow these simple steps to craft this snack classic:
- Wash the celery stalks in cool water.
- Chop each stalk into three- to four-inch pieces.
- Fill the crevice of each celery stick with cream cheese.
- Place the ants (erm, raisins) on top of the filling—the more the merrier!
#8 Frozen Grapes
This snack is as simple as it sounds. Start by washing and de-stemming a handful of grapes and carefully placing them in a container in your freezer. Voila—that’s it! When it’s time to take them to camp, put the grapes in a Ziploc bag alongside an ice pack in their lunchbox to keep the frozen grapes, well, frozen. Be sure to cut them up to prevent any choking hazards!
#9 Mini Quesadillas
This handheld classic makes the perfect summer camp snack for hungry campers on the go. While you only need two ingredients to make cheese quesadillas, you can add as many mix-ins as your little one likes, including:
- Peppers
- Onions
- Shredded chicken
- Tomatoes
- Black beans
- Avocado
Treat Your Kiddo to an Unforgettable Summer at Camp Galileo
Now that you have the perfect snacks down pat—whether you’re packing dino-shaped pitas or kid-approved ants on a log—it’s time to put your skills to good use. All that’s left is finding the right location!
At Camp Galileo, we’ve tailored each of our camps to different ages, ensuring your child stays engaged in activities suited to their interests and age group. Whether they’re second graders building model theme park rides or seventh graders creating go-karts, we offer a variety of innovative activities to spark their creativity and foster a lifelong love of learning.
Fill your kiddo’s summer with creativity, fun and unforgettable adventures (and of course, delicious snacks) at Camp Galileo. Enroll now to allow them to explore, create and thrive in a supportive and engaging environment.
Sources:
Medical News Today. What Are the Benefits of Chickpeas? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/280244
