Fourth of July Snacks

Celebrate the independence of our country while encouraging the same with children. With fresh fruit being plentiful this time of the year, it is a great time to create some colorful holiday snacks.

American Spirit

Ingredients

• Graham Crackers
• Cream Cheese
• Blueberries
• Strawberries, cut into smaller pieces

Spread the cream cheese over the graham cracker to make the flag background.  Cluster several blueberries in the upper corner of the cracker to form a rectangle shape.  Make rows with the strawberry pieces to form the red stripes.  Space the red rows apart, leaving a white row between each.  Red, white, and blue a way to celebrate America and 4th of July.

Patriotic Pattern Sticks

Ingredients

• Long Toothpicks, (hors d’oeuvre)
• Strawberry Chunks or Watermelon
• Blueberries or Purple Grapes
• Banana Slices

Have children slide fruit on the toothpicks in a specific sequence, such as one red strawberry, two white bananas, and one blueberry or grape.  You can do any sequence or numbers.  Note:  Depending on the age group, you can use pretzel sticks with the bananas, strawberries or try other fruits.

 

4th of July – Patriotic Refreshments

Serve red, white and blue snacks to the children for added fun.  Make pinwheel sandwiches with grape and strawberry jelly or jam.

1.  Cut the edges from the bread and flatten the bread slightly with a rolling pin.
2.  Spread the filling and carefully form each slice into a roll.
3.  Cut the roll into bite sized pieces.

Serve red punch with frozen blueberries.  Also, you can place one or two berries in each section of an ice tray.  Freeze and serve with the punch.  Use star-shaped gelatin molds with red or blue flavored gelatin, top with whipped cream.

Use your favorite muffin mix and fold in fresh blueberries and chopped strawberries. Bake according to directions.  Use mini muffin tins.  Serve muffins with a flag decoration.

These are just a few ideas to get you started.  So celebrate July 4th with some fun and colorful snacks.

 

 

New Foods to Celebrate

What better way to celebrate National Farm to School Month than to introduce children to some new fruits and vegetables.  Food can be incorporated into every area in your center and can be such fun!!  When you begin to explore books that focus on foods, healthy eating, gardening, and planting the number available is quite large.  So here a few and some activities to get you started.  Use your imagination, make the books come alive, sample new foods and add activities during the month to get your children excited about healthy eating.   When they are more involved with the activities they are more likely to try new foods.

Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert

This book is great for the introduction of new foods by reading your way through the alphabetical world of fruits and vegetables. Currents, jalapeno peppers, parsnips, star fruit, ugil fruit, and yams are just a few of the foods mentioned. There is also a glossary of the fruits and vegetables described in the book.

Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert

This bright, bold picture book is about vegetable gardening for the very young. The story starts off “Dad says we are going to grow vegetable soup”.  The necessary tools are pictured and labeled, as are the seeds (green bean, pea, corn, zucchini squash, and carrot). Then the real gardening happens . . . planting, weeding, harvesting, washing, chopping, and cooking! In the end? “It was the best soup ever.” A recipe for vegetable soup tops it all off!  After reading the book serving vegetable soup would be a great way of adding vegetables to your children’s diet.  I would also suggest to share a recipe with your parents and encourage them to try this at home.  Parent buy-in is very important and can extend classroom learning.  They may also try something new too!

 

Recipe Corner

Sometimes children will try a new food when they can dip it.  My goddaughter is happy to eat anything if there is something to dip it into.  I think it is the experience of it all.  So if they are a little hesitate to taste a new vegetable or fruit these healthy dips may be a way to encourage the new food experience.

Ranch Sauce*

• 1 cup plain low fat yogurt
• 1/2 cup light ranch salad dressing

Combine ingredients in a small bowl.  Serve with any cut vegetables.

Cinnamon Dip*

• 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• dash of cinnamon

1.  Place yogurt in small (1 cup) bowl.
2. Add brown sugar & dash of cinnamon to yogurt.
3. Stir until well mixed.
4. Cover & refrigerate until ready to serve.
5. Serve with your favorite fruits, such as apple wedges, banana slices, strawberries, peaches or other fruit.

Fruity Parfaits*

• 1/2 cup lightly sweetened cereal, such as Life or granola
• 6 oz. vanilla low-fat yogurt
• 1/2 cup berries or cut-up fruit (drain if canned)
• 2 Tablespoons chopped pecans (check for any food allergies before using nuts

1. Place cereal in small bowl or cereal dish.
2. Add yogurt.  Spread evenly over cereal.
3. Rinse fruit or drain if canned.  Sprinkle fruit evenly over yogurt.
4. Sprinkle chopped pecans evenly over fruit.  Serve.

*Recipes are courtesy of the Georgia Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).  To find out if this free nutrition program is available in your area contact your local county Extension or in Georgia 1.800.ASK.UGA1 or visit http://www.fcs.uga.edu/extension/efnep.

See upcoming blogs for more ideas for adding fruits and veggies.

More Painting Ideas

Painting with various medium is a great way to increase children’s eye-hand coordination. There are so many items you can use, be creative and just try your ideas.  Here are a few suggestions to get you started.  The possibilities with paint are unlimited.

Alphabet Block Prints

Using alphabet blocks with raised letters, dip in thick paint and press on manila paper.

Pine Needles

Dip the tips of the needles in white paint and stroke across black construction paper, or they can be dipped in colored paint and stroked on manila paper.

Fingertip Prints

Place a sponge on a plate and put paint over it.  The child then presses one finger at a time on the sponge and applies it to paper.

Colored Chalk

Here are two different methods for you to try.

1.  Child dips the end of the chalk in water and then applies it to manila paper.
2.  Child immerses manila paper into a pan of water and removes it immediately.  Dry  colored chalk is then used.

Ice Cubes

Start by placing a blog of thick paint on manila paper or finger paint paper.  Have children push the paint across the paper with an ice cube.  A paper napkin or paper toweling may be wrapped on the top of the ice cube to make it less cold for little hands.

Sports Ball Prints

Using golf, tennis, ping-pong balls, etc. dip them in thick paint and printed or stroke over manila paper.

Painting with Toy Cars

The wheels of the car are dipped in tempera paint that is mixed with liquid starch.  The car is then wheeled over manila or other paper.

Potato Prints

Cut potatoes in half and carve a shape on them.  Instruct your child to dip a half-potato into thick paint and press it on manila paper.

Fruit Prints

Using two apples, the first is cut in half from top to bottom; the second is cut in half around the middle.  Let the child dip an apple-half into thick paint and press it on manila paper.

 

Falling In Love….With Fruit & Veggies

Beets are red and blueberries are blue, please eat your fruit and veggies too! Imagine sitting at the dinner table and your kids are actually eating their veggies! What a great day that would be! It can be like pulling teeth to get your child to eat their vegetables which are very important to their growth and development. Let’s not forget about the sweet delicacy of fruit which are equally important. Fruit and veggies are good for the decreasing obesity, increasing their nutrition and their performance in schools. If you have a picky eater there are a few techniques that will help you sneak them in. Smoothies are a great way to pump your child with the nutrients of fruit and veggies and your child will never know that the drink is healthy. Some other techniques for adding more fruit and veggies into your child’s diet are:

• Leading by example– if your child sees you eating your fruit and veggies than they are more likely to eat them themselves
• Let your child help prepare the dish– if your child has an active role in the preparation of the dish than they will have a greater desire to eat their creation.
• Sneak in fruit and veggies into their favorite dishes– adding these items into their favorite foods will increase their probability of eating them such as with the smoothies listed above or maybe adding carrots to their favorite spice muffins.

Apples- Farm, Fresh, And Fast!

APPLES

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DID YOU KNOW?

• Substitute applesauce for oil in many baked goods to cut fat and calories.
• A rough brown patch on apples is not a sign of spoilage; this is know as “russeting”.
• Two-thirds of the fiber is in the apple’s peel.

APPLES BENEFIT YOU!

• Free of fat, cholesterol, and sodium
• Contains iron, calcium, vitamins A and C
• High in dietary fiber
• Healthy source of antioxidants

FAST FACTS!

• Choose apples that are blemish-free and firm
• Refrigerate in plastic bag away from foods with strong odors; apples can absorb the flavor of other products.
• To prevent sliced apples from turning dark, cover with lemon juice.

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Farm, Fresh, And Fast!

SEE OUR BLOG NEXT WEEK FOR FUN AND HEALTHY RECIPES FOR APPLES!!!

No TRICKS, just TREATS!

Halloween time, which means CANDY TIME!!

Well….. not so much, or at least it doesn’t have to. Here are some fun, spooky, and healthy alternatives to candy!!

Orange Jack O’latern Fruit Cup

    

  Pumpkin Fruit Tray

Here are just a few ideas! Allow your children’s input on what their favorite snacks are to come up with more fun treats other than candy and sweets.

Safe Halloween Tips

HAVE A HEALTHY AND SAFE HALLOWEEN!!

Recipes That Make Fruit and Veggies Inviting

Apple Turtles

Ingredients

• 2 Granny Smith apples
• 12 green grapes
• 8 mini chocolate chips
• 10 toothpicks
• Makes 4 servings

Directions

• Cut the apples in half longitudinally and place flat-side down on counter.
• Cut the grapes into two and attach to the apples using toothpicks, making 4 feet and 2 eyes.
• Stick chocolate chips in the front grapes for eyes.

http://www.thedailymeal.com/cook/11-kids-snacks-make-eating-fruits-and-vegetables-fun

Fun Ways to Eat Fruit and Veggies

Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables is good for your health. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends eating at least five servings of fruits or veggies each day. To parents this seems like a dishearten duty, but teaching children about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables and getting creative in the preparation and presentation of these foods will make it easier on the parents.

The following tips can help make fruit and veggies time fun for children:

• Let children be involved in preparing fruits and veggies
• Take them with you to the grocery shop, let the children pick new fruit or veggies
• Make fruit or veggie smoothie
• Make fruit or veggie Popsicle
• Make designs or faces on fruit or vegetable for snacks and meals.
• Pick a color of the day for the fruits and veggies
• Plant a garden, let the child pick out the seeds and have them help plant the garden. Have the child help harvest the vegetables and use it to cook.

 

Be creative!

Peach it UP!!

August is National Peach month and I have some fun healthy recipes that’s sure to send your taste buds on a frenzy! Not only is it healthy, but they are fun and your children would love to assist with preparing.

Peach Salsa

Ingredients

• 2 cups peeled and chopped peaches
• 3/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup seeded, chopped cucumber
• 1/4 cup sliced green onion
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro

Directions

• Combine all ingredients. Cover and chill for several hours, stirring occasionally.
• Complement your chicken or pork with this tasty, tangy salsa.

Farm, Fresh, And Fast!

Peach Crumble

Ingredients

• 3 large sheets graham crackers
• 1 tablespoon soft margarine
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 can peaches in juice or light syrup (15 oz.)
• 1 1⁄2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt

Directions

• Place graham crackers in zip top plastic bag or between two pieces of foil and crumble, using the unopened can of peaches as a rolling pins
• Melt margarine.
• Add graham cracker crumbles and sugar to melted margarine and stir to mix.
• Open can of peaches and drain off liquid.
• Heat peaches until warm, 1-2 minutes.
• Pour 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt in each of 3 small (1 cup) bowls.
• Top each bowl with 1/3 of warm peaches.
• Top peaches with 1/3 of graham cracker crumbles and serve.

UGA Food Talk

Quick HEALTHY Snacks on the go!!

As school starts, it’s to prepare for those mid-day and afternoon snacks. As busy parents and childcare providers, something quick is always the best way to go. Here I have some quick healthy snacks made to grab and go!!

Make your own creative version of the classic “Ants on a Log.”

“Safari Log”

• Cut celery into 5-inch pieces
• Smear the inside with peanut butter
• Top with diced sized fruit such as apple
• Finish it off by placing an animal cracker in the peanut butter

Kids are sure to be amused and entertained while crafting and eating these.  Plus they are getting healthy foods in their growing bodies without even realizing it!

“Fruit Smoothies”

• Assemble bags of ready-to-blend fruit at the beginning of the week. It can include fresh or frozen fruit.
• Place in freezer until you’re ready for a smoothie.
• Simply add the fruit then add 3/4 to 1 cup water.
• Put the top on and blend away!

Making a smoothie is as easy as 1, 2, 3!!!