With kids at home more often than usual, we’re all looking for new and creative activities to keep small hands and brains occupied. Getting kids into the kitchen gives them a chance to practice science, reading, fractions, sharing and fine motor skills, plus gets you off snack duty for the day! The below ideas are ones that kids can do with minimal help, and may even get them to try a new healthy food.
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Recipes
- Apple Donuts: Slice apples widthwise into ½-inch circles. Have kids use mini cookie cutters to cut out the center core. Spread the top of each “donut” with nut or seed butter. Have kids sprinkle the tops with granola, coconut, nuts, raisins or sprinkles.
- Inside Out Sandwiches: Have kids wrap slices of cheese, turkey, ham or another favorite sandwich filling around whole wheat bread sticks or pretzels rods. Add hummus, mustard, or their favorite spread on the side for dipping.
- Fruit Tarts: Break graham crackers into squares. Have kids spread the tops with cream cheese or yogurt and top with berries, or chopped pieces of another favorite fruit.
- Watermelon Pizza: Slice a watermelon into 1-inch thick rounds. Let each child top theirs with sliced fresh fruit and a sprinkle with coconut (for “cheese”) and chopped mint (for “basil/parsley”).
- Energy Bites: Mix 1 cup old fashioned oats, ½ cup of nut/seed butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/3 cup of honey, a sprinkle of cinnamon, ½ cup coconut and ¼ cup of ground flax or chia seeds in a large bowl. Roll into balls (or press into a square baking dish to make granola bars).
- Snowman Faces: Spread cream cheese over a large round rice cake. Have kids use cut up vegetables to make funny faces on top.
- Banana Sushi: Spread nut/seed butter on a whole wheat tortilla. Place a peeled, whole banana at one end of the tortilla and roll the tortilla up around the banana (trying to make it as tight as possible). Spread a drizzle of honey over the top of the banana wrap. Sprinkle with coconut or puffed rice cereal, and slice into 1-inch round “sushi bites”
- Guacamole: Let kids mash avocado with the back of a fork in a small bowl. Let them add their own cumin, salt, lime juice, tomatoes, chopped onion or any other guacamole add-ins your family likes.
- Chia Jam: Defrost frozen berries in the microwave, or leave a bag to defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Pour about 1 cup of defrosted berries (with their juices) in a small bowl and let kids mash up with the back of a fork. Add 1 Tbsp chia seeds and mix together. Place mixture in a jar in the refrigerator overnight so chia seeds can absorb the berry liquid and make “jam”.
- Fruitwands: Have kids thread cut up chunks of fruit onto skewers. Switch it up by having them make a rainbow, pattern, light saber or magic wand.
Amanda Buthmann MS, RD is a pediatric and family nutritionist at Lara Metz Nutrition in NYC. For more information contact her at Amanda@larametznutrition.com, or visit www.larametznutrition.com.
To find out more about our customized in-home fitness programs, contact Bonita at Bonita@EnergeticJuniors.com, or call 212-879-1566.