Getting small children to eat healthy food isn’t hard when you make it fun! From the pickiest toddler to the most resistant youngster, these five fun and healthy food games can help your child to enjoy healthy foods. These fun, hands-on recipes, will get little fingers moving and little mouths a munching. They’re ideal
for parties and play-dates.
1. Fruit Rainbow – Each child will need:
- 1 medium-large paper plate
- A variety of fresh fruit, cleaned and cut, in purples, blues, greens, yellows, oranges and reds.
- Napkins for messy hands
- Plastic spoon
- Vanilla yogurt (optional)
Directions:
Show children how to make a fruit rainbow on their plate while talking
about all of the beautiful colors of fruit. You can then add “clouds” of
vanilla yogurt at either end!
2. The Hokey Pokey Blueberry Smoothie Song!
Ingredients
• 1 ½ cups frozen blueberries
• 2 cups ice cubes
• 1 cup 100% orange juice
• 1 cup blueberry yogurt
• Tools: Blender
Directions:
Form a circle with the kids around the blender and, as you sing the
song (to the tune of Hokey Pokey, of course!), add each item to the
blender.
- You put your ice cubes in; you take your ice cubes
out. You put your ice cubes in and you shake it all about. You do the
hokey pokey and you turn yourself around. That’s what it’s all about! - You put your orange juice in; you take your orange juice out. You put your orange juice in and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around…You put your yogurt in; you take your yogurt out. You put your yogurt in…You put your blueberries in; you take your blueberries out…That’s what it’s all about!
3. Funny Face Rice Cakes
Each child will need:
- Small paper plate
- Plastic knife
- Napkins
Ingredients
- 1 plain rice cake per child
- 1 large tub of whipped cream cheese or peanut butter
- Assorted washed and cut fruits: Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, bananas
Directions:
Have children wash their hands with soap and water before eating. Distribute one rice cake per child. Show them how to spread the cream or peanut butter onto their rice cakes. Have them decorate the rice cake with fresh fruit in funny faces, flowers, and cool designs!
4. Creepy, Crawly Kiwis
Ingredients
- 1-2 kiwis per child
- Chow Mein noodles or pretzels (for legs)
- 1 tub whipped cream cheese
- Raisins or craisins for eyes
Directions:
Demonstrate how to peel a kiwi (yes, even young children can do this with a veggie peeler or plastic knife!). Cut one end to form a flat surface so creepy, crawly kiwis stay upright. Cut raisins into small eyes and dip in cream cheese to “glue” on. Use noodles or pretzels for legs.
5. Easy-Squeezy Peanut Butter Apple Wraps
You’ll need
• Ziploc sandwich bags
• Plastic knives
• Small paper plates
• Plastic spoons
Ingredients
• 1 small banana
• 1 tbsp. peanut butter or SunButter
• ½ apple, cubed with skin on
• 1 8” whole grain tortilla
Directions:
Show your kids how to peel their bananas. Have everyone break their
bananas into bite sized pieces and place them in their Ziploc bags. Add 1
tbsp. peanut butter to each bag and close it, releasing the air. Have
kids mash together the peanut butter and banana in the bags with their
hands until well mixed. Then, cut a corner off of each plastic bag and
have them squeeze the mixture onto the tortilla. Let them spread it with
plastic knives until the mixture is even, to the edges. Have them
scatter apple chunks on top, roll the tortilla into a log, cut it in
half, and enjoy!