From the very first day that I brought our son home I have worried
about the nutritional health of our children. When they were infants I worried
if breast milk was enough, when they were toddlers I worried about fortified
finger foods and when they started school I stressed about simple snack time
offerings. Schools made it a rule that homemade goodies were not allowed and
parents, like myself, were left to choose only what the grocery stores have to
offer which are refined, quick and for the most part sugar laden and unhealthy
choices. I decided to make a list of unrefined snack ideas that can spruce up
the Holiday party. I started with Halloween and came up with a list of seven
unrefined, healthy Halloween classroom party ideas.
These seven tantalizing treats can be made by the children in a
classroom setting with minimal mess or prep time. They are filled with
vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and calcium that are sure to keep the festivities
going in a healthy and unrefined way.
Apple Costumes
Is that a bat in the classroom? No it’s an apple with a funny
mask! This Vitamin C and fiber packed treat will keep those choppers chewing. Printout
the free printable and wrap those washed red or green apples. These masks will
make the whole fruit mysterious and appealing! To print out the apple masks click here to takeyou to the down loadable sheets.
Banana
Ghost Pops
Where does a ghost go to take a swim? Well vanilla yogurt of
course! Take half of a peeled banana and place the cut end on a Popsicle stick.
Press the pointy side of two small chocolate chips into the banana to make the
eyes. Frozen bananas with chocolate chips make this treat especially chilling. Using
the Popsicle stick dip the banana ghost into a serving of low-fat vanilla
yogurt. These potassium rich ghosts swimming in a sea of calcium and protein
make a super hero snack. Click here to see them on our Pinterest page!
Swamp Water
and Bugs on a Raft
Nothing says swampy like green or brown juice! Mix 100% grape
juice with 100% orange juice or purchase Green Machine juice by Naked brand for
an authentic swampy effect. Maneuver the swamp on a rickety raft made of apple slices
with a layer of nut butter and topped with raisins and/or chocolate chips. Serve
raft and water separately.
Sangre
Salsa Dip
Little vampires can’t resist the temptation to dip precut
carrots, celery, baked blue corn chips or pretzel sticks into Vitamin C rich
tomato salsa.
Mummy
Unwrapped
Some mummies just don’t have it together. Take string
cheese and peel the strands off and layer them in a whole wheat tortilla.
Garnish with a tablespoon of hummus and matchstick carrots. Roll together all
of the ingredients in the tortilla and enjoy this protein rich and whole grain
ancient inspired spooky snack.
Witch
Mix
Bring out the cauldron to mix together these fall
favorites including Pumpkin seeds, chocolate chips, dried edamame or dried
peas, nuts, raisins, dried cranberries or apricots. This good witch mix will
serve up vitamins, minerals and protein in a healthy blend.
Clementine
Pumpkins
Small oranges, like Clementine’s or Cuties, can be eaten
with ease by little hands. Peel the pumpkins and stick a 2 inch celery stick
down the center of the pumpkin.
When it comes down to it, children like to play
with their food, maybe even more than they like the bright colored, sugar
filled character dressed candies, cakes and cookies. This year say goodbye to
the wicked witch that brings in the artificial colors, chemicals and supped up
sugar foods and say hello to the nutrition fairy that wants only healthy
alternatives to ease the crazy holiday season.
R.I.P unhealthy classroom snacks.
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