Now that we’re kicking off summer, the kids are out of school, playing outside (hopefully) all day, and eating you out of house and home. I can definitely remember summertime as a kid and constantly coming in the house for a cool snack or a boost of energy so we could go back outside and play another hour of Capture the Flag. Snacks at the pool, snacks at the park, snacks after a hike, snacks on your friend's terrace. 

Satisfying hunger is obviously one of the primary drivers of snacking behavior, but we also snack to reward ourselves, to try new foods and flavors, or to help us meet specific nutritional goals. As Americans, we eat an average of 2.8 between-meal snacks per day, and we often use snacks to replace regular meals. These 4 recipes all work extremely well as summer snacks. Full of delicious and healthy ingredients, these will quickly become family favorites!

1. These Pretzel Chicken Bites are a great summertime snack. Whether heated up, cold out of a cooler, or even at room temperature, these crunchy chicken bites provide protein which will keep snackers going to enjoy more summertime fun. (https://bit.ly/3wCOWgh)
2. Bright colors and fresh veggies make this a very appealing summer snack. Our Summer BBQ Corn Salad can be eaten with tortilla chips, as a side dish, as a delicious fresh salsa for tacos, or as a topping for grilled fish. (https://bit.ly/3gEaVOg)
3. Have you ever eaten Caprese salad and wondered how something so simple could taste so good? Add some delicious crusty bread, wrap in parchment paper, and you’ve got a wonderful portable, hand-held snack! If you’ve never tried a Caprese sandwich, I hope you make our Caprese Press Sandwich this summer. It shows that as long as your ingredients are fresh and tasty, good cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. Oh, and it’s perfect for a summer picnic, too. 😉 (https://bit.ly/3wI2GXd)
4. High in fiber, protein, and antioxidants, quinoa, the main ingredient in this Cucumber & Feta Quinoa Salad makes it a very healthy snack. With crackers or by the spoonful, this dish gives us plenty of energy to help us play all day long. (https://bit.ly/3gFNEKY)

Even though snacking has developed a bad rep, snacks can be an important part of our diets. They can provide energy in the middle of the day or before and after exercise. A healthy snack between meals can also decrease your hunger and keep you from overeating at meal time.

There are many snacks to choose from, but unfortunately, not all of them are healthy. Try to limit the unhealthy snacks you bring into the house. Instead try to keep healthy snacks like the recipes above in the refrigerator. If the unhealthy snacks aren't available, and some healthy options are, we are definitely more likely to make healthy choices.