From Linda Larsen,
Your Guide to Busy Cooks.
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Summer is made for snacking. Most appetites decrease during the hot months, and it goes without saying that cooking isn't high on anyone's priority list. These healthy, cool snack recipes need minimal cooking. Storing them in the pantry, fridge or freezer is a great way to avoid running out to your local fast food drive-through. Plus by making the recipes yourself you get to control what goes in the foods your kids eat!

Here are some of my favorite summer snack recipes. Some are healthy, some are fun, and all are delicious. Enjoy your summer snacking!

Summer Snack Recipes

• Margarita Dip
• Gingery Fruit Dip
• Pina Colada Dip
• Sour Cream Pesto Dip
• Hummus
• Crab Spread
• Orange Cream Salad
• Heavenly Cheese Mold
• Spinach Pesto Spread
• Ants On A Log with Variations
• Four Cheese Snack Mix
• Praline Cherry Munch
• Swedish Nuts
• Orange Mint Slush
• Frosty Float Drink
• Rocky Road Frozen Sandwiches
• Marble Pops
• Cantaloupe Popsicles
• Pineapple Orange Popsicles
• Fruit Gelatin Squares
• Mandarin Orange Freeze
• Lemonade Pie
• Frozen Strawberry Margarita Dessert
• Carrot Pineapple Frappe

Children should eat in between meals, and offering delicious, healthy snacks is a great way to add to their nutrient intake during the day. I have found that kids just love dips. Whether you serve a dip for fruits or veggies, your kids will gobble them up! Sometimes I like to serve a dinner of just fresh fruits, veggies, and two kinds of dip.

These dip and spread recipes can also be used for great easy sandwich spreads. Just add some fresh tomatoes and perhaps sandwich meat and cheese and you have a special sandwich in minutes.