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www.betterkidcare.psu.edu CONTENTS

EDUCATION Recipes...... 14 Pilgrim Pudding ...... 14 Activities...... 6 Tabbouli...... 14 Concentration ...... 6 Potato (Latkes) ...... 14 Compare Sizes ...... 6 Indian Corn Pudding ...... 15 Color ...... 6 Fresh and Dilly Dip . . . 15 Lids ...... 6 Gazpacho ...... 15 Can You Taste the Color? ...... 7 Corn Tortillas...... 16 What Shapes are ? ...... 7 Macaroni ...... 16 Smell ...... 7 Tripearatops Pops...... 17 Teaching Pouring and It’s Me Salad ...... 17 Measuring Skills ...... 7 One Bowl French Bread ...... 18 Gardens ...... 8 Creature Crackers...... 18 Experiment with Growing ...... 18 Conditions ...... 8 ...... 19 More to Do with Plants ...... 8 ...... 19 A Planting Song ...... 9 Talk with Children about Eggs and Milk ...... 9 NUTRITION See How We Grow ...... 9 Activities...... 20 The System...... 9 Food Family Sort...... 20 Where does Food Come From?. . 10 More Food Sorting ...... 20 Grocery Store Dramatic Play . . . . 10 Food Families...... 20 Puzzles ...... 10 The Song ...... 20 Felt Board Activities ...... 11 www .ChooseMyPlate .gov...... 21 How Does Your Garden Grow? . . . 11 Why Do We Eat Vegetables Grains ...... 12 and ?...... 21 Dramatic Play ...... 12 Food Container People...... 21 Water ...... 12 More Felt Board Activities...... 22 Pot Game...... 13 Food Mobile...... 22 Grow an avocado plant...... 13 Stirring the Pot Game ...... 22 Ideas for Puppet Shows and Skits. . 22 Hop Up to Good Health...... 23 New Food Treasure Hunt...... 24 Means Changes...... 31 What Food am I? ...... 24 More about Temperature...... 31 Food Bingo...... 24 Colors...... 31 Spud and Spoon Race...... 25 Natural Dyes...... 32 Toss a Food Group ...... 25 Shopping Spree ...... 32 Veggie Tasting Game ...... 25 Grocery Helpers...... 32 Talk about Favorite Snacks. . . . . 32 Recipes...... 26 Guess the Food...... 32 Spinach Surprise Dip...... 26 How Bodies Grow...... 33 Sundaes ...... 26 Food Makes Bodies Grow...... 33 Orange Salad ...... 26 Pets Grow too...... 33 -Wheat Snacks...... 26 Books and Stories about Food. . . . 33 Banana Crunch Pops ...... 26 Potato Sampler...... 33 Frozen Banana Pops...... 26 Homemade Applesauce ...... 27 Recipes...... 34 Rice Pudding...... 27 Dried Apple Rings...... 34 ...... 27 Juicy Finger Blocks ...... 34 Macaroni Salad ...... 27 Fruit Leather...... 34 AmbrosiaSnow Shake...... 27 Sweet Sticks...... 34 Iron-a- ...... 34 SENSORY Rounds ...... 34 Purple Cow ...... 35 Activities...... 28 Golden Gelatin Eggs...... 35 Vegetable Rainbow...... 28 Pink Deviled Eggs ...... 35 Mixing Foods by Hand...... 28 Celery Vehicles...... 36 Teach Children to Eat Healthfully.28 Butter...... 36 Taste It...... 29 Peach Yogurt ...... 37 Smell It ...... 29 Grape Punch...... 37 Feel It...... 29 Celery Logs ...... 37 Favorite Family Foods...... 30 Peach Crisp...... 37 Table Talk...... 30 Crunchy Critter ...... 37 Scoop Out a Pumpkin...... 30 Cheese ...... 38 Finger Lickin’ Snacks...... 30 Peanutty Burrito Rolls...... 38 How Do You Like Your ?. . . 30 Glazed Carrot Wheels ...... 38 Touch and Size...... 31 Vegetable Soup ...... 39 Spice Traders...... 31

Dietary Cautions

BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING DIETARY CAUTIONS WHEN YOU PREPARE SNACKS AND PLAN NUTRITION ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN:

Be aware of choking risks and food allergies when preparing and serving and snacks . Think about the size, shape, and consistency when choosing foods due to the potential choking risks in children . Food cut in large chunks, small hard foods, and soft and sticky foods should be avoided . The top choking hazards for children

peanut butter, , chips, nuggets, raisins, whole grapes, rawinclude: carrots, hotdogs, fruits meats, and vegetables , with fish withskins, bones, and marshmallows spoonfuls of . Be sure that food is cut in small pieces (no larger than ½ inch), grated,

they are eating . or finely chopped. Be sure that children are closely supervised when Do not give honey to children under 12 months of age . Honey contains spores that can cause infant botulism .

Many children have food allergies or sensitivities to food . According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 90% of children’s food allergies are from milk, eggs, , tree nuts (/),

food labels for potential risks and be sure to ask the parents if childrenfish, shellfish, have astrawberries, known allergy soy, or wheat, sensitivity and gluten.. Carefully read

Dental health is a growing concern with young children, so it is important to keep in mind that starchy, sticky, and sugary foods can cause tooth decay . Children should brush their teeth after any or snack, but particularly when you serve these foods . ACTIVITIES Education Activities

Concentration Color Identify, compare, and sample the colors of foods . For by pasting identical or example: similarMake pairs pictures of flashcards of foods cut from magazines onto • Same food, different colors (red, green, and yellow apples) arrange any number of carrots, and cantaloupe) cards,3” x 5” placing cards. Shuffle them face and • Different foods, same color (oranges, down in rows . One at a time, players turn over 2 oranges, purple plums, yellow bananas) cards per turn attempting • Different foods, different colors (red apples, orange Lids a pair is turned up, the Collect unbreakable food containers with reusable lids, playerto find takesa matched another pair. turn If . such as oatmeal boxes or yogurt cups . (Be sure to check When no cards are left, the edges of containers to make sure they are safe for children player with the most pairs to handle . Cover sharp edges with masking tape) . Separate wins . containers and lids and place them in separate piles . Ask a child to match the tops to the bottoms . Variation: For a word game, one card in a pair Variations: Preschool children may also enjoy sorting the can have the name of the containers by height, using them as building blocks, or food written on it and “selling” them in a store . one can have a picture of the food . Children should match the name of the by playing for speed by racing against another child or the food with the picture . clockOlder . children may find the lids game more challenging

Compare Sizes Another twist is to play the game by using the sense of touch . Blindfold the child or remove the lids and containers Note the sizes of foods . Let from sight by putting them in separate, covered boxes . Have the children sort food by the child feel the containers and lids to decide which ones sizes, biggest to smallest, go together . for example . Change the size of food by cutting, NUTRITION LESSON: slicing, grating, chopping, or dicing . Food is processed, preserved and packaged in many ways . What foods come in the containers used in this game? How many foods can you think of that come in bottles? Cans?

6 101+ Snack Time Ideas Education Activities

Can You Taste the Color? Teaching Pouring and Before the children arrive, prepare 3 pitchers of frozen Measuring Skills lemonade . Use food coloring to color one pitcher orange, Show children how one green, and leave one its natural yellow color, so that the to pour liquids . Use a three look like: orangeade, limeade, and lemonade . When lightweight, small plastic the children arrive let them sample the “mystery juice” pitcher and non-breakable drinking glass . Help them Many people believe their eyes rather than their taste with the pitcher or hold budsfrom each . Discuss pitcher how and the guessappearance what flavors of food they can affectare tasting. our the glass and let them enjoyment of its taste . practice . Start by using water or put uncooked What Shapes are Foods? rice, beans, or macaroni in Look for and name the shapes of foods, such as: the pitcher .

– carrot and celery sticks When the children can pour without your help, let – apple wedges them pour milk and juice for snacks . Place a rubber – green pepper rings (may resemble stars) band around the middle of – round crackers a non-breakable drinking glass . Let children practice – square saltine crackers

– rectangular graham crackers mark . filling the glass to the Children can learn to Smell measure dry ingredients The world is full of smells . How a food smells can affect our enjoyment of it . Lots of people do not even know what measuring cups and “stinky cheese” tastes like, because they never got past the talktoo. Letabout them the fill different smell to try it . markings and types of cups . Sifting and leveling Blindfold the children to go on a walk to see how many children can learn . Be sure children like and ones they do not like . Figure out why we toa cup let themof flour practice are skills . thinkdifferent some smells smells they are can good find. and Make some a listare ofbad smells . the

7 101+ Snack Time Ideas Education Activities

Experiment with Growing Conditions Talk with the children about what they think plants need to grow . Make a list of their ideas . Experiment with water, heat and light . Plant grass in two cottage cheese cartons with the same amount of soil in each . Put one carton in a sunny warm spot and water it daily . Put the other carton in a dark cold spot and do not water . Check the cartons every

day.Place Make large a , chart ofsuch the as childrenʼs beans or observations. in wet paper towels or cotton in a clear container . Talk with the children about the seeds as they watch them sprout . This is the same thing that happens to seeds when they sprout in the Kitchen Gardens soil outside . Many plants can be grown from food in your More to Do with Plants kitchen such as carrot and pineapple tops, beans, orange, lemon and we eat (potatoes, beets, carrots, turnips, radishes), seeds • (beans,Discover peas), what leavesparts of(lettuce, plants spinach),we eat. Talk fruits, about etc roots . grapefruit seeds, popcorn, sweet and white potatoes . Borrow or buy the book plant when you prepare, or process it . Sample Get Growing! Exciting • oneWatch food what in different happens ways, to the such physical as raw properties apples, of a Indoor Plant Projects for stewed apples, applesauce, apple juice, etc . Kids by Lois Walker from your county extension resource library, or (oxidation) by dipping it in orange juice which bookstore for directions, • containsStop fresh vitamin fruit from C (an turning antioxidant) brown . craft ideas and recipes for these and other indoor water . Place a few drops of food coloring into a planting possibilities . • glassWatch of a water stalk of. Stir celery and put“” a stalk a glass of celery of colored in the glass . Watch for the celery to change color .

foods they might grow into . • Collect seeds and try to identify which

seeds (potato eyes or carrot tops) . • Grow plants from sources other then

8 101+ Snack Time Ideas Education Activities

A Planting Song

Sing to the tune of Mary Had A Little Lamb (Use the names of the children in place of Mary) .

Mary had a little seed, little seed, little seed .

Mary had a little seed and hoped that it would grow .

She watered it and pulled the weeds, pulled the weeds, pulled the weeds . She watered it and pulled the weeds, See How We Grow with sprinkling can and hoe . Weigh, measure each child, and trace his/her body And every day the sun would shine, sun would shine, sun on a large sheet of paper . would shine . Repeat in a few months and compare . Is the child And every day the sun would shine and warm it for a while . the same size? If not, And soon a little sprout came out, sprout came out, sprout why? What made him/her came out . grow? Food, of ! And soon a little sprout came out . It made dear Mary smile . The Food System A lettuce plant began to grow, began to grow, began to grow . Hang posters showing the people who work along A lettuce plant began to grow, so fresh and crisp and green . the path that our food takes: farmers, factory Then carefully she picked some leaves, picked some leaves, workers, truck drivers, picked some leaves . grocery store clerks, Then carefully she picked some leaves and rinsed them nice cooks, and “eaters”! Let and clean . children cut pictures from magazines to make Talk with Children about Eggs and Milk collages showing the people who help to bring Where do eggs come from? The eggs we eat usually come us our food . Be careful from chickens . Talk with the children about the many ways to choose posters and we eat eggs . Make a list of their ideas . pictures that do not Talk about milk . Where does milk come from? How many show racial or sexual foods are made from milk? Cut out pictures of egg and stereotypes . milk foods .

9 101+ Snack Time Ideas Education Activities

Where Does Food Grocery Store Dramatic Play Come From? Children who live on a farm may learn through Youʼll– clean, need: empty food containers (children can bring from home) everyday experiences from where their food – large cardboard box with a rope or string for comes . For other children a handle (can be used for a grocery cart) it will take a variety of experiences for them to – grocery (if young children are present, use paper or cloth bags, not plastic) magically appear on their – adding machine or toy cash register platesrealize or that even food in doesnʼtthe grocery store . Here are – purses, wallets some suggestions of things to do to help children learn – play money that many people work – dress-up clothes hard in the long, step-by- step process that brings the food to their tables . hat if they are working in the bakery section . They can unloadChildren and can put play the grocer products by wearing for their aprons store on and shelves a bakerʼs or boxes . Other children can play customers by wearing where food is grown, dress-up clothes and choosing items from the store . Plan field trips to places processed, sold and The customers should have a list of what they need, ask questions about the freshness of food items, etc . Grocers market, plant nursery, should be ready to explain why their products are good and cooked, such as a farmerʼs orchard, farm, food how they could be used . Pay for items with play money and processing factory, large pack in bags . supermarket, corner grocery store, Puzzles commercial kitchen, restaurant, or Puzzles can be made from magazine pictures take the children or posters . Paste the picture on stiff on a guided tour cardboard and allow it to dry . Cut out puzzle of the kitchen in pieces with sturdy scissors . Six or eight puzzle your own child care pieces may be enough for young children . center or family child care home . A wooden jigsaw puzzle can be made in the same way by mounting a picture on a piece of light plywood and cutting it out with a jigsaw .

10 101+ Snack Time Ideas Education Activities

Felt Board Activities How Does Your Garden Grow? around a piece of plywood or heavy cardboard . Figures Children can “plant” their cutMake from a felt felt board will stick by stretching to the felt felt board or heavy as will flannel lightweight fabric own garden using felt fruit objects, such as magazine cutouts . Back heavier objects, and vegetables . Provide such as cardboard food models, with sandpaper or Velcro™ . colors of felt such as:

– Brown for soil, potatoes colors of felt . Choose colors such as: • Food rainbow — Make a rainbow from different – Blue for sky, – Yellow for bananas, corn, some , plums apples, and some . – Red for strawberries, cherries, – Yellow for the sun, tomatoes, and some meats . pears, squash, corn – Green for broccoli, beans and kiwis . – Black for rain clouds – Orange for oranges, carrots, and pumpkins . – White for milk, rice, , and some meats and cheeses . raindrops, – White for fluffy clouds, – Brown for potatoes, breads, and some meats . – Green for trees, – Blue or purple for grapes and blueberries . plants, beans, tops, lettuce, broccoli, peas, peppers pictures to the colors of the rainbow . • Have children match the color of food in – Red for apples, strawberries, for each food group or cut pictures of food tomatoes, peppers • fromCut out magazines foods from and felt paste to match on felt colors squares selected . – Peach for peaches

foods . Discuss why they are favorites . – Orange • Hang pictures of the childrenʼs favorite for carrots chewy, crunchy, sweet, or sour . and • Hang pictures of foods which are pumpkins grow on a vine, in the ground, on a • Sort foods by howtree, they or grow. on a Do bush? they

11 101+ Snack Time Ideas Education Activities

Grains Restaurant Dramatic Play Talk with the children about grain-based foods, such as bread, rice, Youʼll– place need: mats pasta, crackers, , – unbreakable dishes, eating utensils, even cakes and cookies . and napkins tables, chairs Children need at least half of their grains to come – toy grill or stove and refrigerator from whole grains . Talk – cash register, play money about why we need to make sure that we choose – aprons some grain foods more often than others . –

Discuss with the children – pads of paper and pencils foods that can be made Make food for the restaurant by cutting pictures from with grains . magazines and covering them with clear self-stick paper . Read the story “The Little Children can pretend to be cooks, servers, cashiers, and Red Hen” . Grains, like the wheat in the story, are the the food pictures, clear tables, and give diners their checks . seeds of grasses . We eat Cooksdiners. can Servers wear can aprons set the and tables, hats while serve preparing plates filled foods, with many kinds of grass seed . The little red hen could in the restaurant, accept play money payment, and make have taken any of these changefilling orders, . Diners and can doing choose dishes. items Cashiers from the can , seat discuss people the to the miller: rice, corn, food while eating, and pay for the meal with play money . barley, rye, oats or wheat . Water Taste test breads made Show children water in each of its three physical states: from different grains so liquid, solid and gas . Have the children help to put water in that the children can see an ice cube tray . Put the tray in the freezer until the water and taste the difference . freezes . Show the children the solid water (ice) . Place some ice cubes in a bowl . Let them set out on a counter so the Use nutrition posters for children can watch them melt back into a liquid . Boil water a large puzzle or have in a pan on the range . Talk with the children about the children choose magazine water in the air (steam) . pictures or draw pictures of food and food related Find out where water hides in foods . Set out a moist food in ideas, such as farms, heat or sunlight . What happens? Mix corn starch and water plants, gardens or animals . in a bowl . Let it sit for a few minutes . What has happened?

12 101+ Snack Time Ideas Education Recipes

Soup Pot Game Grow an This is a good game to play while preparing vegetables Avocado Plant to make soup or while waiting for a turn during a Use the avocado pit left cooking activity . from making guacamole . Allow the pit to “rest” for a Everyone sits in a circle and pretends there is a big soup few days before putting it pot in the center . into water . Decide with the children what vegetables to prepare . Insert four toothpicks All chant the following rhyme and make the motions of around the middle part peeling, chopping, and stirring . of the avocado pit . Place Peel, peel, peel the (name of the vegetable), the pit into a container of water . The toothpicks Then chop, chop, chop, chop, chop! should rest on the lip of the container so only the bottom of the pit (the wide Stir it into the soup thatʼs cooking in the pot! part) is in the water . Add water as needed so the (ChildʼsChild whose name), name will isyou called add yourgoes (vegetable to the make-believe name) to the pot pot? bottom of the pit stays in and pretends to add the vegetable . water at all times .

BOOKS TO READ ALOUD: In a few weeks, roots will begin to grow . The Growing Vegetable Soup, L . Ehlert pit can now be placed in Booberʼs Colorful Soup, J . Barkan soil . Make sure the soil is appropriate for plants . Stone Soup, M . Brown Potting soil is best .

Place the bottom half of the pit in the soil . Water to keep moist, but not wet . In one month you will have the beginning of an avocado tree .

(Note: Use this activity along with the recipe for Guacamole Dip .)

13 101+ Snack Time Ideas RECIPES Education Recipes

Tabouli 1 cup bulgur wheat 1 tablespoon fresh or 2 cups boiling water dried mint 1 cup carrots, grated 1¾ cups garbanzo beans, cooked and drained 2 medium tomatoes, diced DRESSING 1 small bunch green onion, diced ¼ cup lemon juice 1 cup cucumber, diced 4 tablespoons olive oil Pilgrim Pudding ¼ teaspoon pepper 4 slices whole wheat chopped ¼ teaspoon oregano bread 1 cup parsley, finely ½ teaspoon ¾ cup milk, divided ¼ teaspoon cumin 1/3 cup unsweetened apple juice concentrate Soak bulgur in boiling water for 1 hour . Drain well, 2 eggs pressing out all excess water . Add all chopped vegetables, parsley, mint, and garbanzo beans to the bulgur . 1 teaspoon ½ teaspoon ginger Shake the dressing ingredients in a jar . One hour before ¼ cup molasses serving, add the bulgur/vegetable mixture . Toss the dash salt mixture with the dressing . Makes 10 (½ cup) servings .

Dice bread slices and crumble in a blender . Place bread crumbs in Potato Pancakes (Latkes) a bowl . Blend together ½ cup of milk, apple 10 medium potatoes Peel potatoes and grate juice concentrate, 4 eggs, lightly beaten eggs, cinnamon, ginger, 2 tablespoons matzoh molasses and salt . Pour meal or 4 tablespoons bakingthem on powder, a fine grater. and salt; Add the mixture over the mixeggs, well matzoh . Drop meal spoonfuls or flour, crumbs and stir . Pour 2 teaspoons of mixture into a nonstick into a greased baking powderflour griddle or frying pan . Bake at 350°F for 30 2 teaspoons salt coated with . minutes . Pour ¼ cup milk Cook, turning once, until over the top and bake for 1 teaspoon vegetable oil for frying pan golden . Makes 14 (4-inch) 25 more minutes . Makes 6 pancakes . Cut in half for to 8 small servings . younger children .

14 101+ Snack Time Ideas Education Recipes

Zucchini Bread Heat raisins and apple Fresh Vegetables ½ cup raisins juice concentrate in a and Dilly Dip ¼ cup unsweetened apple saucepan until raisins any combination of fresh juice concentrate are soft, about 3 minutes . vegetables, such as Puree raisins and juice carrot sticks, green 1 egg in a blender . Add egg, pepper sticks, celery sticks, cucumber ¼ cup vegetable oil vegetable oil, banana and sticks, broccoli sticks, 1 ripe banana, sliced vanilla to blender and mix . In a large bowl, stir 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup plain yogurt dry ingredients together . cauliflowerets Add blender ingredients 1 teaspoon dill weed 1 teaspoon parsley 1 cup whole wheat flour and zucchini . Mix all ½ teaspoon baking ingredients . Pour into a Wash and prepare fresh ½ cup all purpose flour powder vegetables . ½ teaspoon baking soda pan . Bake for 50 to 60 ¼ teaspoon salt minutesgreased andat 350°F floured . loaf DIP 1 cup shredded zucchini Blend together yogurt, dill weed, and parsley . Give each child his/her ZUCCHINI own bowl of dip . Let the children choose their own Make the same batter as zucchini bread . Pour batter into fresh vegetables . greased and floured tin cups and bake at 350°F for Gazpacho 30 to 40 minutes. Makes 12 muffins. 2 ripe tomatoes Indian Corn Pudding ½ green , chopped 2 cups drained whole Preheat oven to 350°F . kernel corn (frozen, 1 tablespoon lemon juice Mix the ingredients fresh, or canned) 1 can (6 ounces) and pour into a 1 quart ½ teaspoon honey juice greased baking dish . Set ½ teaspoon pepper ½ cucumber, peeled and the dish into a pan with chopped 2 beaten eggs about 1 inch of water in ¼ cup chopped onion 1 cup milk the bottom . Bake for 70 dash garlic powder 1 tablespoon margarine minutes . Pudding is done Blend all ingredients 2 tablespoons wheat when a knife inserted crumbs . in the center comes out together in a blender . Chill . clean . Serve in bowls . Makes 6 to 8 small servings .

15 101+ Snack Time Ideas Education Recipes

Corn Tortillas Beef Burrito 1 cup boiling water ½ pound lean ground beef 1 cup yellow or white for snack-size servings ½ teaspoon salt ingredients for - (orsize double servings) first three

2Pour to 2½ boiling cups water whole over wheat the flour cornmeal . Let the mixture sit 6 tablespoons mild or 1 smalltomato onion, sauce finely diced minutesfor 10 minutes. . Let sit Mixfor 5 salt minutes and wheat . Pinch flour off pieces together. of dough Knead the sizeflour of into golf the balls cornmeal . Shape themixture. pieces Keep into kneadingballs . Roll for out 5 the to 10 balls tortillas 1½6 (6-inch) tablespoons soft flour inches in diameter . Cook on an unoiled hot griddle or skillet margarine, melted with a rolling pin on a floured board until it forms a circle, 4 for approximately 2 minutes on each side . up ground beef into Flour Tortillas small pieces and brown with diced onion . When cooked, drain well and stir 1 teaspoon salt 4 cups whole wheat flour in taco or tomato sauce . 1/3 cup vegetable oil Place 2 tablespoons (for about 1 cup warm water snack) or 4 tablespoons (for lunch) of meat mixture into center of each soft tortilla . Fold tortilla untilMix flour smooth and . Letsalt. the Add dough oil. Mix sit togetherfor 20 minutes with fingers. . Pinch offStir over meat mixture to form piecesin enough of dough warm the water size to of make golf balls a firm . Shape ball of the dough. pieces Knead into a rectangle . Brush each burrito with margarine until it forms a circle, 4 inches in diameter . Cook on an and bake 10 minutes or unoiledballs. Roll hot out griddle the balls or skillet with a for rolling approximately pin on a floured 2 minutes board on until slightly brown in each side . a 350°F oven . Makes six burritos; one burrito per Macaroni Salad child . May cut burritos 1 carrot, diced ½ cup cheese cubes in half for 1 to 2 year old 1 celery stalk, diced 2 cups cooked elbow macaroni children . 1 tomato, diced 2 tablespoons plain yogurt

Wash the vegetables and cut them into pieces . Cut the cheese into cubes . Add the vegetables and cheese to the cooked macaroni . Add the yogurt and stir to mix well . Makes about 6 (½ cup) servings .

16 101+ Snack Time Ideas Education Recipes

Homemade Shake a Pudding 6 cups oatmeal, uncooked instant pudding mix 2 cups wheat germ, low-fat milk toasted or untoasted plastic bowl with tightly 2 cups coconut, sweetened or unsweetened4 tablespoons cinnamon Pourfitting the lid amount of milk 4 tablespoons brown called for on the pudding sugar package into a plastic ½ cup powdered milk bowl . Add contents of the pudding mix . Place lid on 2/3 cup honey bowl . Let the children take 2/3 cup oil turns shaking the bowl of It’s Me Salad 2 teaspoons vanilla pudding mix . Spoon into Give each child a peach or bowls and eat! Mix all dry ingredients in pear half for his/her body a large mixing bowl . Add and half a hard cooked honey, oil and vanilla . Tripearatops Pops egg for a head . Hair can Mix well, coating all dry 2 cans (16 ounces each) be made from dry , ingredients . Place mixture pear halves in juice shredded cheese, or grated on a jelly roll pan or 1 can (29 ounce) pear carrot . Use small pieces of sheet with sides . Bake halves in juice tomato for mouths, celery at 300°F for 20 minutes, 1 cup water or carrot sticks for arms stirring several times . ½ cup honey and legs . Prunes, raisins, Watch closely! It will burn 2 tablespoons lemon juice or plum halves make very quickly . Makes 22 good shoes . Let each child (1/3 cup) servings . Puree pears and juice in a come up with his/her own blender . Combine pureed combinations . VARIATION: pears with water, honey and lemon juice . Pour into seeds, nuts, raisins, or popsicle molds or 4-ounce dates can be added after paper cups . Partially the mixture has cooled . freeze pear mixture . Push plastic spoons into the center of each cup . Freeze

ounce) pops . until firm. Makes 15 (2½

17 101+ Snack Time Ideas Education Recipes

One Bowl French Bread Pretzels 1 pkg dry yeast 4 teaspoons sugar 1½ cups warm water 3 to 3½ cups unsifted flour 1½ teaspoons salt (105-115°F)½ teaspoon sugar 1 package dry yeast 2 tablespoons soft margarine 1 egg yolk 1¼ cups very hot water (105 - 115°F) 4½ cups flour 2 teaspoons water coarse salt in a large bowl . Mix thoroughly . Add margarine . Add very non-stick spray hotCombine water 1 gradually cup flour, to sugar, dry ingredients salt, and undissolved . Beat two minutesdry yeast . Dissolve yeast in warm water; add sugar . Mix doughAdd 1 cup. Cover of flour bowl or tightly enough with to plasticmake a wrap thick . batter. Beat 2 or 3 minutes. Stir in enough additional flour to make a soft minutes . (Children enjoy Let rise in a warm place for 45-60 minutes . Stir dough takingin flour turns and knead to do this5-10 .) Place dough in an oiled bowl . Let it rise, covered, down, turn out onto heavily floured surface. After washing, smooth . Shape dough into one large oblong or let the until double in size . childrenflour childrenʼs experiment hands with and different have them shapes knead and dough sizes until . Try pretzels, animals, letters, numbers, or holiday shapes . Divide dough into 30 pieces and form into Place on a greased baking sheet and let rise (40 to 50 pretzels or other shapes . minutes for large loaf, less time for small shapes) . Bake (Allow each child to design at 400°F (40 minutes for large loaf, 8-10 minutes or until his/her own shape .) golden brown for small shapes) . Place dough shapes on Creature Crackers a cookie sheet, sprayed Set out cheese slices, crackers in various shapes and small with non-stick spray . Mix cookie cutters . Let children cut shapes from their cheese together egg yolk and slices to lay on their cracker(s) . water . Brush dough with egg/water mixture and Encourage children to talk about sprinkle with salt . Bake at the shape of the crackers and 475°F for 10 minutes or the creature(s) they have 375°F for 20 minutes . made .

18 101+ Snack Time Ideas Nutrition Activities

Pizzas Guacamole Dip 1 pkg . 10-12 refrigerator 1 large ripe avocado 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 jar prepared sauce 1 small onion, minced 1 (6-8 oz .) pkg . grated 1 small tomato, diced mozzarella cheese 1 tablespoon mayonnaise aluminum foil Dash of garlic salt and chili pepper to taste non-stick cooking spray Remove the green peel from the avocado . Carefully cut the Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil (for easy cleaning) and spray Addflesh other away ingredientsfrom the pit. and (Save mix the well pit . Give to grow each an child avocado his/ with non-stick cooking herplant.) own Have bowl the of childrendip and somemash freshthe avocado vegetables, flesh tortillas, in a bowl. or spray . Give each child a bread cubes for dipping . refrigerator . Have them shape the biscuit Hummus 1 (15 ounce) can cooked (drained, save the liquid) as a ”. Spread 2-3 tablespoonsdough until it pizza is as sauce“flat ¼ cup tahini (sesame paste) on top of each biscuit ¼ cup lemon juice and sprinkle with cheese . 3 large cloves garlic Place in 400°F oven until ½ teaspoon salt the cheese melts (about 15 minutes) . Makes 10 - 12 Place chickpeas, tahini and lemon juice in bowl . Let each pizzas . child mash until mixture reaches the consistency of a coarse paste (use as much liquid as needed) . Peel garlic You may want to read the and allow children to squeeze garlic through a garlic press . book Curious George and Add garlic and salt to bowl . Cover hummus and refrigerate the Pizza before you make 1 hour . Serve as a spread on crackers, bread or with pizzas with the children . vegetables .

Fruity Dip 1 (8 ounce) carton of plain low-fat yogurt Mix all ingredients in a bowl . Give each child 1 tablespoon orange juice concentrate his/her own small bowl of dip . Use as a dip for ½ teaspoon vanilla fresh fruit such as melon balls, banana slices, strawberries, blueberries, chunks of apple, sprinkle of cinnamon peaches, or pears .

19 101+ Snack Time Ideas ACTIVITIES Nutrition Activities

Food Family Sort Food Families Write the name of a Foods which have things in common belong to food different food family on families . In a food family, all foods are not the same but they large sheets of construction have some things in common . paper . Have the children cut pictures of foods from There are six food families: old magazines . Hold up – Grain (including cereals, pasta, rice, bread) each food picture . Let the children decide the food – Vegetable family in which the picture belongs . Have the children – Fruit paste the food pictures on – Dairy (including milk, yogurt, cheese) the construction paper with the name of the food family . – Protein Foods (including meat, poultry,

More Food Sorting – Fats, oils, and sweets There are a number of fish, eggs, dry beans, nuts) ways to sort foods . Have Talk with the children about foods that they see near each the children cut out other at the grocery store . Most stores group many food pictures of foods from family items together . magazines . Make up your own categories for sorting . We need to eat a certain number of servings of food each You may want to use some day from all the food families . of the following: Ask children to bring in a fruit or vegetable to share or set – colors out a variety of fruits and vegetables yourself . Ask children which ones are fruits; which ones are vegetables . How do – seeds/ no seeds we know? – crunchy/not crunchy The Vegetable Song – sweet/ not sweet Sing to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

– eat cooked/ raw/ Carrots, peas, and broccoli both ways Vegetables taste good to me . – juicy/ not juicy For my snack and in my lunch, Veggie sticks are great to munch . Carrots, peas, and broccoli, Vegetables taste good to me . 20 101+ Snack Time Ideas Nutrition Activities

Why Do We Eat Vegetables and Fruits? While children are eating vegetables and fruits, explain to them that everyone needs to eat vegetables and fruits every day to stay healthy .

Vegetables and fruits help them see better (point to eyes); make their skin www.ChooseMyPlate.gov healthy (point to skin); To help people use the MyPlate model and make healthy give them strong teeth and food choices, the USDA has launched the ChooseMyPlate . bones (point to teeth and gov website with resources for nutrition and health . There bones); and they will be are pages for educators, health care professionals, parents, happy because they are healthy (big smile) . designed to meet the unique, individualized needs of and children, including an interactive page specifically Food Container People Ask parents to save empty preschoolers, two to five years of age. TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE: food containers, such – Growing up healthy as cracker boxes, cereal boxes, gelatin boxes, – Developing healthy eating habits pudding mix boxes, etc . Let the children use the – Trying new foods boxes to create food carton people . Set out pieces of – Playing active every day scrap paper and yarn to – Following food safety rules complete their creations .

– Daily food plans for preschoolers This activity helps to show children the foods that – Sample meal patterns, meals, and snacks come in certain boxes . If they have never tasted – Kitchen activities the food in the box they – Ideas for being a health role model are using, plan to prepare some and let the children – Links to other nutrition and health organizations try it .

21 101+ Snack Time Ideas Nutrition Activities

More Felt Board Activities Ideas for Puppet See page 11 for building instructions. Shows and Skits Using a felt board can perk up a story or a discussion about food . Let the children select and hang pictures of foods on the felt board . They may use felt board pictures to talk plays,Use childrenʼs and songs books, for ideas about foods they like and dislike or other food habits . fornursery nutrition rhymes, skits finger and Another use can be to have children talk about what they puppet shows . ate before they came to day care . Read to the children such Food Mobile books as: Many different kinds of materials can be used for making The Carrot Seed mobiles . Tie a string to each item and hang them at various The Gingerbread Man lengths from a coat hanger or a piece of wood . (Be sure to Stone Soup supervise children when fastening the strings to the coat Bread and Jam for Frances hanger or wood .) When completed, the mobile may be hung from the ceiling . These stories are exciting and fun . They Try some of these items for a nutrition mobile: magazine often contain nutrition pictures pasted on cardboard, cardboard food models, messages . Caregivers may clean empty food containers, or hardened playdough want to use the books shaped like foods . to introduce a nutrition Stirring the Pot Game lesson to the children . Talking nutrition is Children are seated in a circle around a large pot . Give each easier if you start with an child a picture of a food . Begin the chant below . Have the exciting story . children join in . Stirring, stirring, stirring the pot (stirring motion) . Bubbly, bubbly, bubbly hot (pretend to make pot boil) . Look to the moon (point and look up) . Laugh like a loon (laugh) . (Name a child) stir something into the pot . (child names the food in the picture and places it into the pot) Repeat the chant until each child has had a turn to add a “food” to the pot .

Variation: stir in only a certain kind of food . For example, just fruits or vegetables or just Vitamin A foods .

22 101+ Snack Time Ideas Nutrition Activities

Hop Up to Good Health This game will help children learn about different foods and help them understand the difference between anytime snacks and sometime snacks . Anytime snacks can help us grow, make us strong, and may help keep us healthy . Sometime snacks contain fewer nutrients than anytime snacks .

FOOD NUMBER Milk 2 Orange 2 Juice Apple 2 Peas 2 Banana 2 Cheese 2 Green 2 vegetables Tomato 2 You will need: Peanuts 2 – game cards Carrot 2 – box to hold game cards Soda 1 1 starting line and the Good Health Goal line 1 – (30chalk feet or awaytape linesfrom markedthe starting on the line) floor for a Cake

Make game cards on 3” x 5” cards by pasting the picture Potato 1 of each of the foods from the list below to one side of each Chips card . Write the number, 2 or 1, on the back of each card to Sugar 1 show the category of the food . Cookies

To play the game, have 2 to 4 children at a time stand behind the marked starting line . Each child, one at a time, draws a food game card from the box . Each player says the name of the food on the card and reads the number on the back . If it is an anytime snack the card will have a number 2 on the back . This means the child may take two hops forward . If it is a sometime snack, the card will have the number 1 on the back . This means the child may take one hop forward. The object of the game is to be the first to reach the Good Health Line by hopping. 23 101+ Snack Time Ideas Nutrition Activities

More about Field Trips Food Bingo Have the children help complicated by too much to see, too far to go, or too long to you to make Food Bingo visitPlan . fieldTake trips small ahead groups of oftime children so that with the onevisit adult is not for about cards . Use one piece of three children . cardboard or construction paper for each card . Divide Visit orchards, gardens, dairies, chicken farms, canneries, the card to make six or bakeries . Learn where food comes from, how it is columns . At the top of each grown, what it looks like before and after it is ready to be column, write the name sold to consumers . of a food family (grains, vegetables, fruit, milk, play, and art . Talk with the children about what they meat, fats/oils/sweets) . Follow field trips with activities such as music, pretend learned on their visit . These activities give each child a Draw lines across the chance to use what has been learned . below the name of each New Food Treasure Hunt foodpaper family to make . Place five a boxesfood Gather some small plastic bowls with lids and a variety of sticker or paste a picture of nonperishable new foods (breads, fruits, and vegetables a food from each of the food work well) . Prepare each new food so it is ready to taste . groups in a square under Wash fresh fruits and vegetables . Cut into bite-size the food family categories . pieces . Place foods into plastic containers . Use a different container for each food . To play, give each child a handful of dry macaroni to Hide the containers, either inside or outdoors . Have the use for markers . (Use larger pasta shapes for young containers are found, each child should bring his or her children .) Name a food on “treasure”children try to to the find table the to containers share with of the food. other When children all the .

What Food am I? card,the childrenʼs he or she bingo can place cards. aIf macaronithat food ismarker on a childʼs on the picture . The game is won foodTape isfood attached models to or their pictures own backof food by toasking each “yes”childʼs or back. “no” when one child has markers questionsThe object . Ifof a the child game is having is for eachtrouble, child give to findlots outof hints what such on all the foods in a row, as: “Your food has lots of Vitamin A” or “Your food is in the across, down, diagonally or fruit/vegetable group ”. in the four corners of the bingo card .

24 101+ Snack Time Ideas Nutrition Activities

Nutrition Fishing child must go back to the stretching from player to Have the children cut starting line and start over . player . The leader may pictures of food from then point out that in the magazines or use Spud and same way that the players The first child across the cardboard food models . spoon may also be played are all “tied” to each finish line wins. Tape paper clips to the as a team relay race . other, foods from the food back of the pictures or groups work together to food models . Tie a piece of NUTRITION LESSON: help us grow . string to a wooden spoon Potatoes contain You may also choose other carbohydrates, a source of groups like favorite foods pole . Tie a small magnet energy . Potatoes also have or holiday foods . onto make the end a simple of the stringfishing . vitamin C (ascorbic acid) . In which food family are Veggie Tasting Game For a pond, use a pie pan, potatoes? How do they plastic dishpan or place a grow? How many ways Here is a game for tasting can we cook potatoes? new vegetables . Cut the food pictures in the pond . following vegetables hula-hoop on the floor. Put Toss a Food Group into bite-size portions: well balanced meal . The Have players sit in a circle . Have children fish for a radishes, zucchini, magnet will attract the The leader tosses, rolls, cucumberbroccoli, cauliflower, . paper clips . Give children or passes a ball to any enough turns so everyone other player and calls out Say riddles for the children can catch a balanced meal . the name of a food family . to select vegetables: Talk about the foods with The player who catches the children and help them the ball must name a food – Taste the vegetable to group the foods in the from that food family, toss that looks like a white proper food families . the ball to another player, and call out the name of – Find the little trees Spud and Spoon Race another food family . And flower. (cauliflower) (broccoli) . Give each child a spoon so on, until each player has and a small potato . Mark had at least one turn . – Taste the red rock (radish) . VARIATIONS: – Taste the vegetable chalka starting or tape line . Theand objecta finish Use a ball of yarn instead wheels (zucchini or isline to onrace the a floorgiven with distance of a regular ball . Each cucumber slices) . carrying the potato on the player keeps hold of the spoon . Fingers must stay yarn when he tosses the Serve with the recipe clear of the potatoes . If ball to another player Spinach Surprise Dip . a potato is dropped, the making a web of yarn

25 101+ Snack Time Ideas RECIPES Nutrition Recipes

Spinach Surprise Dip pineapple, etc . Each child Add these fruits to the orange 2 cups fresh spinach makes a sundae by spooning pieces and mix together . Each yogurt into the dish and ¼ cup dried parsley topping it off with a choice a scoop of the . (chopped very fine) of fruits . Granola may also Servechild fills with an milk orange . rind with ½ cup plain low fat yogurt be added . 1 cup green onions, Cheese-Wheat Snacks including tops Orange Fruit Salad 7½ cups bite sized shredded Mix all ingredients together . Give each child one half of wheat Give each child his/her own an orange . Help them scoop 5 tablespoons margarine, bowl of dip and some fresh out the orange sections melted vegetables for dipping . with a spoon . Set the rinds parmesan cheese, grated aside to use as bowls . An salt Yogurt Sundaes adult should cut the orange Give each child a small sections into bite-sized Place shredded wheat in a plastic bowl or clean empty pieces . Put them into a bowl . bowl; pour melted margarine margarine tub and plastic on it . Sprinkle with grated Let the children use serrated cheese . Add salt to taste . Stir spoon . Set out a bowl of plastic knives and cutting plain yogurt . Have the ingredients together and boards to cut banana and place on a cookie sheet . Bake children help prepare a apple slices into chunks, fruit plate of sliced peaches, for 5 minutes at 350°F . Serve grapes in half and pineapple warm or cold . Makes 15 (½ strawberries, banana slices into smaller pieces . slices, blueberries, crushed cup) servings . Banana Crunch Pops 1½ cups granola, crisp rice cereal, or 10 medium bananas, peeled and cut into 3 Grape Nuts cereal 8 ouncespieces each yogurt (any flavor) 30 wooden popsicle sticks Place yogurt and cereal in separate shallow dishes . Insert a wooden stick into each banana piece . Roll banana pieces in yogurt then in cereal, thoroughly covering each piece . Place bananas on a baking sheet lined with wax paper . Place in freezer . When frozen, place each banana in a plastic sandwich and label . Store in freezer . Let bananas stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving . Makes 15 servings (2 banana sections per child) .

Frozen Banana Pops Let each child mash half of a ripe banana in a bowl . Scoop the mashed banana into a small paper cup and freeze . Children eat the frozen banana pop by licking the top and peeling off the paper . Serve with graham crackers and milk .

26 101+ Snack Time Ideas Nutrition Recipes

Homemade Applesauce Macaroni Salad 15 medium apples 1 carrot, diced 6 tablespoons honey* 1 celery stalk, diced 2 teaspoons cinnamonwater 1 tomato, diced ½ cup cheese cubes Core, peel, and chop apples . Boil in ½ inch of water 2 cups cooked elbow macaroni until apples are tender . Add honey and stir . Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons plain yogurt cinnamon and eat . Makes 15 Wash the vegetables and (½ cup) servings . cut them into pieces . Cut the cheese into cubes . Add the vegetables and cheese Rice Pudding to the cooked macaroni . 2 egg whites Add the yogurt and stir to 1 egg mix well . Makes about 6 (½ cup) servings . 2½ cups cooked rice ½ cup sugar Ambrosia Shake ½ cup raisins 4 ripe bananas, sliced 2 cups milk ½ cup orange juice ½ teaspoon vanilla ¼ tsp . vanilla4 cups milk ¼ teaspoon cinnamon Have the children help Heat oven to 325°F . Beat egg peel the bananas . Older whites and egg in an ungreased 2-½ quart casserole dish . preschoolers may be Stir in remaining ingredients . Bake uncovered for 50 to able to slice the bananas, 60 minutes, stirring after 30 minutes . Remove from oven using a serrated plastic when a knife inserted halfway between the center and the knife and a cutting board . edge comes out clean . Sprinkle with ground cinnamon . Let the children pour the Serve warm or cold . Immediately refrigerate any remaining ingredients into a blender . pudding . Makes about 10 (½ cup) servings . Blend until smooth . Makes 12 (½ cup) servings . Snow Waffles

Toast frozen waffles. Let each child use cookie cutters to Servecut a with cocoa, into wintertime cider or apple shapes juice (snowmen, . trees, etc.). Sprinkle powdered sugar on the top of the waffle shapes.

27 101+ Snack Time Ideas ACTIVITIES Sensory Activities

Teach Children to Eat Healthfully As children eat with adults, they become used to eating healthy foods . Starting healthy eating habits as children is a lot easier than trying to change unhealthful habits that have been built over a lifetime .

Starting children off on a lifetime of healthy eating means giving them healthful food and showing them good eating behaviors . It also means helping children learn about foods, their bodies, and how choosing a good diet can help people to stay healthy .

Preschool children are at a good age to learn that eating nutritious foods is part of a healthy lifestyle . Children and adults can eat and enjoy foods from all food groups . Children like to explore different tastes, textures, colors, and shapes of food . Through this they can learn about food differences .

Preschool-age children like to explore the senses that are developing . They are excited to do activities that stimulate taste, touch, sight, sound, and smell .

Vegetable Rainbow Mixing Foods by Hand Have the children wash their hands . Let Mix a batch of peanut butter cookies and the children wash a rainbow of vegetables a batch of oatmeal cookies . Ask children including red cherry tomatoes; orange to wash their hands so they can mix the carrots; yellow, red, and green peppers; ingredients together with their hands . green celery and broccoli; and purple Discuss the difference in textures . For cabbage . An adult should do any cutting example, oatmeal is more grainy and and slicing . Arrange the vegetables in a rainbow pattern on a large or smooth . If your recipe has raw eggs, do not cookie sheet . Encourage each child to taste letfirm children while the taste peanut the batter butter . is soft and every color of the rainbow . NUTRITION LESSON Make a simple vegetable dip by combining Mention that peanut butter is in the meat cottage cheese and ranch dressing . Mix group while oatmeal is in the grain group . to taste . Give each child his or her own Both would be good for a snack food . serving of dip in a small cup or bowl .

28 101+ Snack Time Ideas Sensory Activities

Hear It Smell It Feel It Ask the Place some of Place sturdy foods, such children the items as the ones listed below, to close below inside clean socks or paper their eyes in small bags . Ask the children to or tie a containers . reach into the sock or bag bandanna over their eyes . Cut a slit in the lid . Glue Make the following sounds small pictures from and ask the children to magazines or drawings of identify the foods using each food onto a piece of only their sense of hearing . paper . Have the children take turns smelling the – eggs breaking – containers . Ask them to pouring water match the canister to the and identify the foods by – crumbling crackers correct food picture . touch only . You may want to have pictures of the – beating eggs foods pasted onto a sheet of paper . Ask the children – corn popping

– celery crunching bag to the pictures . Ask themto match about whatʼs how inside the foods the feel . Are they smooth? – tuna Bumpy? Fuzzy? Round? Taste– soda Itwater fizzing – vanilla Long? Large or small? Stir the following – lemon juice – dry beans items into plain – onion – uncooked rice water . Give each child four spoons – citrus peel – dry cereal to dip into the – cocoa – solutions to taste . – cloves – raisins Ask them which flour – cinnamon foods taste salty, – prunes sweet, etc . – peanut butter – cornmeal salt (salty) – pepper – kiwi white vinegar (sour) – chili powder sugar (sweet) unsweetened grapefruit juice (bitter)

29 101+ Snack Time Ideas Sensory Activities

Favorite Family Foods Finger Lickin’ Snacks Invite parents to share the ways that they prepare their Plan a snack or a meal homes and families for holidays or special occasions . that can be eaten with the Special foods, decorations, traditions and clothing could be incorporated into the housekeeping area . fruits, and vegetables arefingers. easy Nuts, . Be brave crackers, and Many recipes are passed from generation to generation . experiment with peanut Talk with the children and their parents about the special butter, yogurt, and other recipes/foods in their families . Are the recipes the same or foods that are normally different from other families in your child care? eaten with a utensil . Be Ask parents to bring in a recipe or a sample to taste so sure the children have everyone at child care can try special foods from each clean hands before they family . Some foods that look different have similar tastes start this activity . Use and some foods taste different but look the same . Talk spoons in the serving about them and sample them . bowls . As they eat, talk with the children about Table Talk how foods feel . Another way to point out texture and other sensory How Do You Like variations is to play guessing games at the table . Ask the children, “What do you have on your plate that is crunchy?” Your Carrots? (a carrot) “What is red and slippery?” (jello) “Can you think Prepare cooked, raw, and of the only true blue food?” (a ) . frozen carrots . Dice or mash the cooked carrots . Scoop Out a Pumpkin spices . Serve raw carrots Each child should have a spoon, a large dish for pumpkin inDonʼt sticks add or salt, rounds butter, . Slice or pulp, and a paper cup for seeds . Separate the pulp from the frozen carrots into thin the seeds and discuss the texture of pumpkin . Use the pulp sticks or rounds . children to sample . Roast or fry the pumpkin seeds in oil Invite the children to andto make salt forpumpkin a snack pies, . bread, muffins, or cookies for the taste each of the different ways to prepare carrots . NUTRITION LESSON Ask them which they like Place the food used in this activity into its food group: the best and why . Try pumpkin pulp is in the vegetable group . For older children, serving other foods, such mention that pumpkin is one of the dark yellow vegetables as potatoes, eggs, green that should be included in their diet several times a week . beans, spinach, and apples Pumpkin seeds are in the meat group . in several ways .

30 101+ Snack Time Ideas Sensory Activities

Touch and Size More about Blindfold older children . Younger children may prefer just Temperature to close their eyes . Give children several different sizes of 1 . Freeze different shapes dried beans, uncooked pasta, or nuts . Pick foods with an of ice cubes . Why did aroma so children can identify foods by the way they smell the water turn hard? or feel . Ask children to sort the foods by smell or by size: small foods together, medium together and large . 2 . Boil water and watch the steam . When we NUTRITION LESSON see steam rising, what is happening? Discuss the foods used for this activity . This might become a math activity by comparing which foods are bigger or 3 . Melt the ice cubes smaller than others or by counting the number of foods to show children used in the activity . how temperature can change foods . Spice Traders Children will often refuse to eat spicy foods . A good time Eating Colors to talk with them about spices is when you talk about 1 . Serve the same food foods from other countries . Pop some popcorn . Divide it in different colors, into separate bowls . Sprinkle each bowl of popcorn with a such as red, green and different spice or herb . Onion, garlic, and seasoned salt are yellow apples . Ask the especially tasty, but you can try cinnamon, nutmeg, oregano children if the different and others, too . colors of apples taste the same or different . Cooking Means Changes 2 . Serve different foods You will need 4 eggs for this activity . Boil water in a that are the same color, saucepan . Number the eggs 1, 2, 3, and 4 by writing on the such as oranges, carrots shells with a waterproof, permanent marker . Place all the and cantaloupe . How eggs into the pan of boiling water . are these foods the Remove egg #1 after 1 minute . Remove egg #2 after 3 same? How are these foods different? minutes, egg #3 after 5 minutes, and egg #4 after 10 minutes . Crack each egg into a different bowl to show 3 . Serve different foods that the difference in cooking times on the eggs . Explain that are different colors, such cooking and heat also help kill many germs . as red apples, orange oranges, purple plums, Make certain that no child yellow bananas . How are eats the eggs used in this activity . these foods the same? How are they different?

31 101+ Snack Time Ideas Sensory Activities

Natural Dyes Talk about This is a messy activity but very interesting . (You might Favorite Snacks want to do this outdoors in the summertime .) Choose Help the children write some colorful berries, fruits, or vegetables, such as grapes, down a list of their walnuts, grass, beets, onions . Place the food in a saucepan . favorite snacks . Make up (Use a separate pan for each food) . Add water, cover, and a list of categories such as bring to a boil . Allow to simmer for ½ hour . Remove the the ones listed below . Talk food from the pan with a slotted spoon or pour into a with the children about colander or strainer . Be sure to save the liquid . Allow the which snacks belong in liquid to cool . each category .

Set out the pans of cool liquid . Give the children small – baked in the oven pieces of white cloth (pieces of old sheets are great) . Let them dip the pieces of cloth into the pans of liquid . See if – comes out of the they can guess which foods made each dye . refrigerator

In many parts of the world, natural dyes are still used for – comes out of a box dying clothing . You may want to ask parents to bring a – grows on a farm white t-shirt for the children to dye or let them dye fabric to make curtains for the classroom . Also, try dying a peeled – tastes sweet cooked egg in beet juice! – tastes salty NUTRITION LESSON Guess the Food Select some of the foods used for dyes for a snack . A lesson Put three or four favorite on color can be taught with this activity, for example, mixing blue and yellow to get green . Have the children pick onefoods food on eachout and childʼs put plate.it in Shopping Spree your hand or mouth while Save clean leftover food containers with the labels until you cover your there are enough for the children to play store . eyes . You try Separate food packages according to the food to guess by groups . Combine them in different ways to touch or taste plan meals for a day . which food it is . Then switch Grocery Helpers roles, and let each child Ask the children to help put groceries away . Talk with try to guess . the children about foods . Compare them by color, shape, texture, and taste .

32 101+ Snack Time Ideas Sensory Activities

Potato Sampler How Bodies Grow Give each child a potato to scrub . Cut one clean raw Cut out the shape and color it to look like the child . Cut out potato into slices . Let each picturesTrace each of foodchildʼs from body magazines shape on . Pastea large the piece pictures of paper. on the child feel, smell and taste a body cutout . Talk about how food helps the body grow . Ask slice of raw potato . the children if their bodies are the same size and shape . Compare the cutout to your body size . Explain that bodies Place another potato grow in different shapes, and sizes, and at different rates . into a saucepan . Add Ask parents to bring in a baby picture of each child . Discuss water and simmer until how the children have grown . tender . Or bake a raw potato until tender . Food Makes Bodies Grow Peel remaining potatoes . Make or buy a growth poster . Along the unruled edge, paste Place in a saucepan with pictures of food or have the children draw pictures of foods . water and cook until they Talk about how important food is to growth . Show them are soft enough to mash . how their height increases with age . Have children take turns using a hand masher to Pets Grow Too mash the cooked potatoes . Talk about the family pet, or Let one child pour milk into the potatoes, another importance of giving a pet food add margarine, and andthe childrenʼs water every pets. day Discuss to help the it another put in a dash of grow and keep it healthy . salt . Have the children take turns mixing . Books and Stories Allow each child to take about Food a small portion of the boiled or baked potato and stories that talk about food a portion of the mashed orSelect make childrenʼs up your booksown stories and about food and health . potato . Talk with the Preschoolers like animals and other children as children about the characters . Ask the children questions about changes in taste the story . Avoid books that encourage and texture of inappropriate food uses - reward, the potato from punishment or toys . when it was raw to cooked to mashed .

33 101+ Snack Time Ideas RECIPES Sensory Recipes

Dried Apple Rings Fruit Leather (older children can help to 2 cups fully ripened fruit (do not use bananas or citrus fruit) make this recipe) 2 tablespoons honey or sugar ½ apple per child Optional: a combination of any of the following seasonings 1 part lemon juice to equal 1 tablespoon: ground cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon or 4 parts water orange peel and/or cloves . Wash, peel, and core apples . Slice into 1/8” chunks . Put fruit in blender with honey or sugar . Add thick rings . Mix lemon desiredWash fruit seasonings well (donʼt . Blend remove for 15 edible seconds peels). . Cut into large juice and water in a bowl . Dip apple rings in lemon- Cover baking sheet with plastic wrap (mixture should not water mixture . String rings leak under the wrap) . Spoon individual servings of the fruit on a clean, strong thread . mixture onto plastic wrap (fruit should be about 1/8” thick) . Set on sunny window sill for approximately 12 hours until other . Let rings hang until fruitDonʼt is let dried rings . touch each problem) OR put in oven at 150°F with door ajar for 4 hours . firm and not sticky (cover with a nylon net if bugs are a Juicy Finger Blocks Fruit leather can be frozen or stored in a sealed container for 6 months to 1 year . gelatin Sweet Carrot Sticks ¾3 envelopes cup boiling unflavored water Cut raw carrots into sticks . Place in a container and pour in 1 can (12 oz .) frozen apple, orange, grape, or unsweetened pineapple juice to cover . Chill for an hour or other juice concentrate more before serving . Dissolve gelatin in boiling Iron-a-Sandwich water . Add juice and stir Prepare cheese as you would for grilling . Butter until mixed . Pour into a the outsides of each slice of bread . Wrap the sandwiches in lightly greased 9”x13” pan . aluminum foil . Iron the sides of each sandwich with a warm Chill in the refrigerator iron for 1 or 2 minutes on each side . This is a fun snack for a rainy day . hours) . Cut into squares oruntil use firm cookie (about cutters 2 to Rounds make shapes . Store in an Slice carrots, cucumbers and zucchini into rounds . Let the airtight container in the children spread them with , peanut butter, egg refrigerator . salad, etc .

34 101+ Snack Time Ideas Sensory Recipes

Purple Cow Pink Deviled Eggs ¼ cup unsweetened grape 1 cup milk 4 eggs juice 1 banana, sliced 1 small can beets Mix all ingredients together in a blender . 1 tablespoon mayonnaise Makes 4 to 6 small servings . ½ teaspoon prepared mustard

Golden Gelatin Eggs Hard cook eggs . Cool and 3 cups unsweetened apple juice, divided remove shells . Cut eggs in half lengthwise and scoop diced fruit (optional) out yolks into a small 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin bowl . Pour juice from the lettuce can of beets into a cup . 10 plastic eggs Soak each egg white half in Wash plastic eggs . Allow to dry . Bring 1 cup of the apple the beet juice for 1 minute . juice to a boil in a saucepan . Empty 1 envelope of gelatin (The egg whites will not into a bowl and pour in the hot apple juice . Stir until gelatin taste like beets .) Remove is dissolved . Add ½ cup cold apple juice and stir . egg whites and drain on a paper towel . Mix egg Place the top halves of 10 plastic eggs in a thoroughly yolks with mayonnaise washed empty plastic egg carton . If desired, spoon a small and mustard . Fill the pink amount of diced fruit into each egg half . Fill the egg halves egg halves with the yellow with the gelatin mixture . Carefully place the egg carton in mixture . the refrigerator . Chill for about 2 hours or until the gelatin Makes 8 deviled eggs . has set .

Make another batch of apple juice gelatin . Hold one egg an egg top over the egg bottom . Secure the two halvesbottom tightly in your . Place hand the and egg, fill topit with half gelatin. down, Place in the egg carton . Return eggs to the refrigerator . Allow gelatin to set for about 2 more hours .

To unmold, place each egg in hot water for 1 minute . Carefully remove the plastic eggs . Place each golden egg on a bed of lettuce on a small plate . Makes 10 gelatin eggs .

35 101+ Snack Time Ideas Sensory Recipes

Muffins Celery Vehicles Wash celery stalks . Cut 1 tablespoon baking power each stalk into pieces (2-3 1 cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt inch long) . Fill the center of each piece with peanut butter or egg salad . 1 egg ¾ cup whole-wheat or graham flour ½ cup unsweetened apple juice concentrate ¼ cup vegetable oil celery pieces into transportationItʼs easy to turn snacks filled . ¼ cup milk Hook two together with 1 banana, sliced toothpicks to make an outrigger . Add a paper sail to one to make a sailboat . BlendSift together egg, apple all-purpose juice concentrate, flour, baking powder and salt. Attach carrot wheels to oil,Stir milk, in whole and wheatbanana or in graham a flour. the sides of another with blender . Combine dry toothpicks to make a and liquid ingredients . racing car . Spoon into greased or Peanut Butter 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes . Have the children help lined muffin cups. Bake at you to shell a package of roasted unsalted peanuts . MakesVARIATIONS: 12 muffins. Grind the peanuts in a food grinder . Mix the Fruit Muffins ground peanut mixture with softened margarine . Add salt to taste . Spread Add 1 cup chopped freshblueberries or canned arefruit especially to the muffin delicious! mix the peanut butter onto before filling muffin cups. Peaches or crackers . Bran Muffins For a special treat spread Substitute 2 cups bran the peanut butter on whole-wheat toast and top flakes for the whole-wheat with warm applesauce . or graham flour.

36 101+ Snack Time Ideas Sensory Recipes

Peach Yogurt Peach Crisp 1 cup plain yogurt 4 to 5 fresh peaches 1 cup diced peaches 1 cup -like cereal ¼ cup unsweetened ¼ cup unsweetened apple juice concentrate apple juice 1 teaspoon cinnamon concentrate 1 teaspoon margarine Mix all ingredients milk (optional) together in a blender . Spoon into Peel and dice peaches . Place in a cups . Makes 6 to 8 greased pie pan . Stir in cereal, apple small servings . juice concentrate and cinnamon . Top with dabs of the margarine . Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes . Grape Punch Serve warm, plain, or with milk . Try topping it with Peach 5 cups unsweetened grape Yogurt . Makes 10 to 12 small servings . juice 1 teaspoon lemon juice Crunchy Critter Cookies 1 tablespoon unsweetened 1 cup orange juice concentrate ½ cup dried mixed fruit 1 cup water 3 ripe bananas, mashed Ice cubes 1 teaspoon vanilla Orange slices ¼ cup vegetable oil 3 cups rolled oats together . Pour into glasses ½ teaspoon salt overStir first ice cubes4 ingredients and ½ teaspoon cinnamon with orange slices . Makes Chop nuts in a blender and put them into a large bowl . 24 small servings . Then chop in the blender and add it to the nut Celery Logs mixture . Add bananas, vanilla, vegetable oil, rolled oats, salt and cinnamon . Stir ingredients thoroughly . Let stand a few Mix equal portions of minutes for oats to absorb moisture . Place spoonfuls of the grated carrots, peanut butter and crumbled with a fork . Bake for 20 minutes at 350oF . spoon-sized shredded dough on an ungreased cookie sheet and flatten each one wheat . Press mixture into Makes 4 dozen cookies . celery stalks, cut into 2-3 inch long pieces .

37 101+ Snack Time Ideas Sensory Recipes

Cheese Toast Toasted Sunflower Seeds Lightly toast slices of bread . Put bread slices Spray them with nonstick vegetable cooking spray or on a cookie sheet and sprinkleShell raw them sunflower with a seeds. small Placeamount seeds of vegetable on a cookie oil sheet.. Stir and cover with shredded spread them out evenly . Bake at 300°F until crispy, about Cheddar cheese . If desired, 25 minutes . Add salt if desired . sprinkle on sesame seeds Peanutty Burrito Rolls until cheese is melted . Cut 2 cans (16 ounces each) diced peaches in juice* or sunflower seeds. Broil each slice into 3 sections . 1¼ cups peanut butter Watermelon Popsicles 1 cup seedless watermelon 10Drain (6-inch) peaches whole . Spread grain 4 ortablespoons enriched flour peanut tortillas** butter equally chunks over one side of each tortilla, covering the entire surface 1 cup unsweetened orange evenly . Divide peaches evenly between tortillas . Roll up, juice tucking in sides, to form a burrito . Cut each roll in half to 1 cup water serve . Makes 20 servings (1 burrito equals 2 servings .)

Blend all ingredients * Also try shredded carrots or shredded apples instead together in a blender . of peaches . Pour into small paper cups . Place in freezer . ** Use the soft tortilla shells that are sold in the dairy case . When partially frozen, They can be rolled without preheating if they are left out insert popsicle sticks or of the refrigerator for about one hour . small plastic spoons for handles . Freeze until solid . Glazed Carrot Wheels Unmold by running hot The Carrot Seed before and after water over bottoms of you do this activity . cups for a few seconds . 1½Read pounds Ruth Kraussʼs carrots book 2 tablespoons margarine 2 tablespoons honey ½ cup water

Scrape and slice carrots . Melt margarine in an electric skillet or saucepan . Mix water and honey . Pour into the skillet or saucepan . Add carrots, cover, and cook on low heat, stirring occasionally until tender .

This recipe makes about 16 ¼-cup servings of vegetables .

38 101+ Snack Time Ideas Sensory Recipes

Fruit Dip Vegetable Soup ½ cup plain yogurt Read the book Stone Soup ground cinnamon by A . McGovernor . Making 1 tablespoon unsweetened vegetable soup is a fun frozen orange juice cooking activity to use concentrate with a number of stories . fresh fruit, such as apples, (Peter Rabbit is another peaches, oranges, favorite .) Talk with bananas, berries, pears the children about the textures tastes, and how Have the children help you the vegetables look . to wash the fruit . An adult Frozen Waffle Treat should cut the washed 1 12-ounce box (48 frozen vegetable: (be sure the pieces are Youʼllpotatoes need 1 cup of each fruitsmall into enough finger so size children pieces yogurtmini-waffles each) celery 8 ounces fruit flavored green peppers Have each child use wonʼtHave the choke). children mix the crayons to decorate his or orange juice and yogurt carrots her own plastic sandwich in a small bowl . Let them 2 cups water sprinkle some cinnamon bag . on top . 2 cups tomato juice Spread yogurt on one Give each child his or her Have the children help own small bowl of yogurt you wash the vegetables . yogurt to cover the top dip . Have each child spoon An adult should cut the waffle. Use just enough fruit onto a small plate, then vegetables into small dip the fruit pieces into the pieces . Place vegetables of 24 waffles (about 2 yogurt dip and enjoy . in a pot with water and teaspoons per waffle). Top tomato juice . Bring each waffle with another NUTRITION LESSON ingredients to a boil and sandwichwaffle, making bags a. Freeze sandwich. While eating and preparing reduce heat . Simmer for Place waffles in decorated the food, talk about the 15 minutes . different colors, tastes, until firm. Makes 24 mini- and shapes of the fruit This recipe makes waffle sandwiches. and yogurt mixture . Tell approximately 12 ½-cup the children that yogurt is servings of vegetables . made from milk, so it has calcium that helps make strong bones and teeth .

39 101+ Snack Time Ideas You Care . We Care .

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Claudia C . Mincemoyer, Ph .D ., Better Kid Care Program Director

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