Summer treats...need some ideas?

In no time at all, school will be out and you will have a house full of hungry kids home during the day for the summer. Are you ready? Perhaps this is your first summer with a gluten problem to really consider, or maybe there is another food that you are having to be careful to avoid. There are ideas a plenty to please those hungry kids, no worries!

My husband and I have four kids, three still living at home. The three that are still here all have a problem with gluten. For us, it's second nature and I honestly don't think about it very often anymore. We just don't buy things that contain gluten and what we don't buy, we either do without or we make ourselves.

For you, the problem may be bigger...or at least feel that way. Perhaps you have to not only avoid gluten, but also corn? Or maybe you just have to avoid corn. Maybe dairy is an issue? While I don't have to deal with any of those issues, other than the gluten, I know there are options out there.

So, what summer treats do your kids ask for on a regular basis? I know the first thing that comes to mind are Popsicles! This is an easy fix if you are having to watch out for dairy or corn in your foods. Making your own Popsicles is easy and saves a bundle in the long run. The hardest part is getting your kids to bring back the "sticks" when they are finished with them. :) Fruit juices or even homemade smoothies can easily be frozen in those nifty Popsicle molds they have on the market. Even an ice cube tray can double as a suitable mold, or perhaps a paper cup. Use a plastic spoon as a stick and your kids will be loving life!

Another huge hit at my house are smoothies. We almost always have berries in the freezer, sometimes even a banana or two. Add a bit of fruit juice, some yogurt (even non dairy varieties work well) and the frozen fruit to your blender and you are on your way to a cool and refreshing treat. My kids also love it when I add honey to it, you could even add some ground flax seeds for added nutrition.

For an added kick, another great ingredient, if dairy is not a problem is Kefir. What is Kefir, you ask? It is best described as a cultured, tangy, drinkable yogurt. My kids love it and it is so good for you too. Adds a bit of zip to your smoothie.

So, what else could you have on hand for those hot summer days? Well, ice cream is always a big hit. There are so many different kinds on the market these days and many of them are dairy-free, corn-free and gluten-free. I'm sure you can even find some that have no eggs in them either. If you are like me, and enjoy making your own, then you can add or subtract anything you don't want in your ice cream.

Take your favorite cookie and add a scoop of ice cream onto it and top it with another cookie. Stick them in the freezer for a bit to set up and then enjoy your own ice cream sandwiches! Yummy! You could even put them on a stick and dip them in melted chocolate, roll it in chopped nuts and....are you hungry yet? :)

How about having a bowl of cubed up fresh melon, or berries? Good for them, a sweet treat on a hot day and no guilt for the mom in us! Who doesn't enjoy a nice bowl of watermelon, honeydew or cantaloupe? OK, some of those are not a favorite for some kids, I know my daughter doesn't care for anything other than watermelon. Speaking for myself, I've never met a summer melon that wasn't tasty!

My final idea for you is frozen grapes. Yes, you read that right, frozen grapes. Any table grape will work find, seedless is best. Simple take your grapes off of the stem, put them in a freezer safe container and freeze them solid. When you need a cool treat, take them out and enjoy. Just be careful if you have sensitive teeth. :)

Enjoy this summer time with your kids home. They are only young for a short time and someday you'll only have the memories of the summer days with them home. Here on our farm, we enjoy summer. It's a lot of work, but the fun times out in the sun are what we all remember most!