Happy summer! June 21 brought the first official day of summer, which provides a great opportunity to talk to our kids, grandkids, friends and neighbors about where and how we get our food. While we’re out having fun in the sun, let’s remember to eat regular, healthy meals and stay hydrated too.

Start by noticing the growing crops in the fields around us. Talk with kids about what happens to the crops as they grow and are harvested. If you are unsure about methods used in your area, this could be a great learning experience for you too.

Next, take a trip to the local library for books about food and where it comes from. Another trip could be to the local farmers market. Let kids choose a new fruit or vegetable that is unfamiliar to them and explore recipes with this new food or try it raw. Let kids help you at the grocery store and use it as a big classroom. Allow kids to be actively involved before you go by helping to write out the grocery list. Encourage them to choose nutritious foods and help them identify foods from each of the five food groups. Last, encourage the kids to help you prepare a healthy meal or snack.

My nephews can be “choosey” eaters, so my sister is always looking for fun, new recipes to try. Here are a few of our favorite snack recipes:

Healthy Banana Split

• 1 cup fresh berries
• One banana
• 8 tablespoons whipped cream or yogurt
• Layer berries, banana and whipped cream as a parfait or let kids dip their fruit

Yogurt Dip for fruit

• ½ cup vanilla yogurt
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• One apple (sliced small enough for little fingers and little mouths)
• Combine yogurt and cinnamon and dip apple pieces

Pudding Faces

• Pudding cup and/or 1 cup homemade pudding
• ¼ cup raisins, grapes, apple wedges, almonds, orange slices, blueberries, craisins, chocolate chips or bananas.
• Prepare pudding and allow kids to decorate their “pudding face” with their favorite toppings

What are some of your favorite summertime recipes? Ask friends and neighbors to share their favorites with you and try something new this summer. Happy eating!

Here’s to a healthier you!

For more information please call Stephanie at the Purdue Extension Kosciusko County office at (574) 372-2340, or email at [email protected].