I have always loved hosting. Summer at our house means endless excuses to have friends and family over—and becoming a mom has completely shifted what that looks like.
Pre-kids, I’d plan a proper dinner party around hand-picked farmers market finds, agonizing over which vintage tableware to pull from the attic. Now, with a 6- and 3-year-old running around, I’m all about FUN. Themed movie nights (The Parent Trap + Oreos and peanut butter, obviously). Build-your-own pizza nights with homemade dough. And the absolute non-negotiable: fruit pizza: sugar cookie crust, whipped icing or yogurt, fresh fruit in every color of the rainbow. Simple, seasonal, always a hit.
The fun-first energy carries over to my work too. When I’m developing recipes for Little Spoon, I’m thinking about the same things: what’s in season, what tastes best right now, and how to turn it into something your kid will actually eat.
My summer produce picks
Peaches
Some fruits just need to be eaten outside. A fresh, in-season peach is one of them—hot weather, long days, the first bite where the juice runs down your hand. It’s never too early to start building sensory memories around seasonal favorites, and that’s exactly the philosophy behind how we develop our summer flavors at Little Spoon.
Peak-season peaches have a natural sweetness and floral complexity you just can’t replicate off-season—which is why we time summer seasonals around them. Find them in our limited-edition Peach Cobbler and Orange Butternut Swirl Babyblends.
Summer corn + peppers
I love throwing veggies on the grill whenever it’s already on. It’s one of those moves that feels effortless but delivers a ton of flavor.
In summer—when corn and bell peppers are at their peak—you genuinely don’t need more than a few ingredients. Grill them, toss with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lime. That’s it. The natural sweetness caramelizes into something kids actually fight over.
One of our family’s favorite Little Spoon meals during the summer months is the Turkey Taco Plate. Throw on some grilled corn tortillas and fresh avocado for extra festive flair.
Behind the Seasonal Babyblends
Childhood memories were the whole inspiration here for our Babyblend seasonals. You know that feeling—it’s too hot, you hear the ice cream truck coming around the corner, and a creamy orange popsicle suddenly becomes the most important thing in the world.
That popsicle was a core memory for a lot of us, and we wanted to bring the same magic to your littles. We built ours specifically for a growing palate: a mouthwatering combo of orange, vanilla and coconut cream that nails the nostalgic creamy-citrus balance with clean, real ingredients.
Translation: the kind of flavor that makes mealtime feel like a treat (without the added sugar).
How I think about summer snacking
Beach trips are non-negotiable in our house, and I will fully admit I plan the snacks before I confirm we have towels or chairs. No shame.
I love variety, so we always pack two snackle boxes:
- The cold box: fresh fruits, veggies, cheese, meat.
- The crunchy box: everything moisture-sensitive that needs to stay crisp.
Keeping them separate helps keep the crunchy stuff crunchy by the time you hit the sand. Our Fruit + Veggie Minis and Fruit Rippers are permanent residents in box #2.
My #1 summer feeding tip
Get outside as much as you can, even if it’s just your backyard. Then focus your energy on having fun.
Sandwiches are a completely acceptable dinner in summer—especially picnic-style. (That goes for the littles, too!) When my boys were first eating solids, we got a lot of mileage out of pop-up camping-style high chairs for outdoor meals. Fresh air, new textures, a little mess in the grass…turns out it’s one of the best ways to get a hesitant eater excited about food!
Keep it simple, make it an adventure, and the rest figures itself out.
