Cool Stuff

New frozen snack introductions and a health-conscious charitable promotion make the freezer this summer's hottest destination.

Earth's Best, a leading brand of organic infant and toddler foods from the Melville, N.Y.-based Hain Celestial Group, is expanding its popular Sesame Street line of snacks and meals with Frozen Mini Cheese Pizza Bagels. Made with organic wheat flour, tomato sauce and a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, the low-fat snack provides 2 grams of fiber and 8 grams of whole grains per serving, and is fortified with iron, zinc and six B vitamins, as well as containing no genetically modified organisms (GMO), hydrogenated oils or trans fat. Slated to arrive in frozen food sections this January, the product will retail for a suggested $4.79 per 6.9-ounce box. For more information, visit www.haincelestial.com.

Speaking of frozen pizza snacks, Ore-Ida Bagel Bites from Pittsburgh-based Heinz is inviting families to snack more meaningfully with an online "Pledge to Snack Simply" that emphasizes the importance of simple, wholesome fare while at the same time raising funds to promote better nutrition through youth programs.

By taking the pledge in English or Spanish at www.snacksimplypledge.com, grown-ups promise to take some small steps that can have a big effect on their kids' daily snacking. For each person who takes the pledge, Bagel Bites donates $1 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, up to $50,000.

"When kids are on summer break, normal schedules fade away, and it's important to have a structured daily routine that keeps kids feeling energized and at their best throughout the day with simple, wholesome snacks," explains Connie Evers, a registered dietitian, founder of NutritionForKids. com and author of several books, including "How to Teach Nutrition to Kids."

The pledge asks parents to adhere to three guiding principles for summer snacking:

■ Keep it Simple: Offer uncomplicated, easy-to-prepare snacks with wholesome ingredients

■ Keep it Tasty: Serve snacks kids will love

■ Keep it Fun: Connect with your kids by including simple, family-friendly activities at snacktime As well as raising money for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, people who take the pledge also receive a $1-off coupon on their next purchase of Bagel Bites.

"The Snack Simply Pledge is a great way for parents to set an example for youth in America and show they're committed to making wholesome nutrition an important part of everyday life for themselves and their kids," notes Cyndi Court, EVP of resource development and marketing for Atlanta-based Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "By encouraging families to choose simple, wholesome options at snacktime, the pledge reinforces our efforts to teach health and life skills that develop young people's capacity to engage in positive behav- iors, nurture their own well-being, set personal goals and live successfully as self-sufficient adults."

Bagel Bites recently incorporated whole grain into its entire line of frozen pizza snacks, which now offer a healthy 8 grams of whole grain per serving.

"When choosing snacks for kids, it's best to look for wholesome snack options that have simple, recognizable ingredients and offer the added benefits of whole grain," adds Evers. "It's also important to make choices you know your kids will love and you can feel good about serving."

Sweeter Than Ever

Meanwhile, over on the sweet side of the frozen section, the latest indulgence from Q-Bees, a line of all-natural, vegetarian and kosher cube-shaped treats created by four-star New York chef Daniel Holzman and friends, combines two beloved desserts in one mouthwatering treat: premium vanilla ice cream and rich chocolate brownies. Q-Bees Brownees retail for a suggested $3.99 per 12-ounce box of four individually wrapped items. For more information, visit http://qbtreats.com.