Summertime snacks and meals for children offer an avenue for creativity and more.

A visit to one of the local farmers markets can provide a fun outing.

Get children involved in planning menus based on what’s available or in season.

Youngsters may enjoy creating a "Salad of the Week" or a "Veggie Dish of the Week" for their family by selecting new and familiar ingredients.

Sliced fresh fruits and vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, pineapples and apples are just a few of the many snack options.

The University of Wisconsin Extension also offers these meal and snack ideas:

Whole wheat bread and sandwich fixings, including pre-cut veggies.

Leftovers from last night’s supper, including salad.

Cold pasta, potato or tuna salads, made with lots of veggies.

Fresh, cut-up vegetables with dip.

Corn-on-the-cob, husked and ready to go in the microwave.

Fruit salad made with summer fruit in season.

Yogurt, granola and fruit for yogurt parfaits.

Make a "burrito kit:" tortillas, refried beans, salsa, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. The leftover tortillas can be used to make roll-ups with hummus and veggies or peanut butter and bananas.

Hard-boiled eggs, string cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese — cold foods are more appealing on a hot day and don’t require cooking. These foods all have some protein, which will help kids feel full longer and hopefully decrease snacking later.

Keep fresh fruit and veggies cut up in the refrigerator in see-through containers or plastic bags. Keep them visible. Don’t let them get lost in the lower bins.

Frozen fruit smoothies with 100 percent juice, frozen fruit and low-fat ice cream parfaits, or homemade frozen juice treats with a spoon stuck in a paper cup are tasty and easy-to-make

Need more ideas? A variety of recipe and activity books are available at the Hall County Library System branches.

Food is needed

The Georgia Mountain Food Bank is once again partnering with local groups to provide lunches to low-income children.

GMFB is looking for volunteers to help with the summer lunch bag meal assembly and delivery for the weeks of June 4 through July 27.

The meals will be assembled at the GMFB office at 4515 Cantrell Road in Flowery Branch and transported to several locations.

Also, donations of items such as fresh fruit, shelf stable milk (8-ounce cartons) and 100 percent juice boxes, are being accepted to include in the lunches.

For more information on volunteering or making a donation, contact: Morgan Nix at 770-561-7933

Sandra Stringer is a nutrition educator with the UGA Cooperative Extension office in Hall County. Contact: 770-535-8290. Her column appears biweekly on Wednesdays and on gainesvilletimes.com/life.