Summer Food for the Family

With the arrival of summer comes a return to the great outdoors for families. Whether kids are camping, picnicking, partying or playing, one thing is for certain—they're going to get hungry! So if you're planning to light up the grill or are just looking for a quick way to cool your child's appetite, we've got plenty of tasty summer recipes your family is sure to enjoy.

Fruits for the Season

Fresh fruits, abundant in the summer months, are nature's desserts—and many are great sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Juicy and sweet, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are healthy and delicious favorites that even little ones can eat one by one, right out of the bowl. They're great in fruit salads, smoothies, pancakes, and on top of waffles, too!

Melons are at their peak flavor in the summer. Offer a bowl full of cut-up watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew at your next meal to satisfy your family's sweet tooth, or serve it to the kids for a snack after an afternoon at the park for a refreshing treat.

Take advantage of summer's bounty to expand your child's taste buds! Chopped nectarines, peaches, apricots, papayas and mangoes are delicious additions to a bowl of oatmeal. Try offering them with a bit of yogurt for dipping. And on a hot day, frozen grapes, peach and pineapple cubes are a yummy treat.

For more fun with fruit, try these delicious recipes:

Fabulous Fruit Pizza: This attractive summertime treat is great for parties or as a family dessert everyone is bound to love.

Homemade Fruit Rolls: Fruit rolls are a big 'kid favorite' and very easy to pop into lunches or backpacks for kids on the go. These rolls are 100% fruit with no sugar or artificial anything added. They're also cheaper than their boxed counterparts, coming in at just 17 cents each!

A Variety of Veggies

Have you ever taken your child to a farmer's market or fresh produce stand? Who doesn't love the beautiful rainbow of vegetables, with eye-catching rows of deep red, yellow and green peppers that are delicious served with grilled meats or in easy-to-make quesadillas. You'll also find purple eggplants, green cucumbers, heads of colorful lettuces and juicy red ripe tomatoes all in season to enjoy.

Don't forget that perennial favorite, corn on the cob. Serve it tonight and ask your family how they eat their corn on the cob—across in rows, or around the cob? It certainly tastes great either way!

Try these fun recipes to get your family eating their vegetables:

Summer Squash Frittata with Basil: Veggie-filled frittatas are delightfully quick, versatile, and inexpensive.

Summer Risotto: This friendly veggie risotto takes only half an hour to prepare, and is a hearty, healthy summer meal for the whole family.

Cheesy Zucchini: Do you have an abundance of zucchini from your summer garden? Roasted and tossed with your favorite pesto, zucchini turns into an almost-instant summer side dish.