Snacks

Healthy Banana Split

Ingredients: 1 banana 3 tsp Greek yogurt 2 slices of strawberries 3 blueberries Directions: Cut the banana lengthwise. Place one of the halves on the plate, cut side up. Spoon yogurt onto the banana to cover. Place strawberry slices and blueberries on top of yogurt. Tip: Have the kids make their own banana split. It’s a great way to get them to practice fine motor skills and to have fun in the kitchen!   Adapted from: http://school-bites.com/healthy-valentines-day-treats-school-party/

Lentil Granola Bars

Ingredients: 2/3 cup shredded coconut 2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats 1 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup pellet-like bran cereal 1/2 tsp cinnamon 3/4 cup lentil puree* 1/2 cup canola oil 1 egg, beaten 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, dried cranberries or raisins   Directions:  Preheat oven to 350F. Make sure rack is in centre of oven. In medium bowl, mix coconut, oats, brown sugar, cereal and cinnamon. Add lentil purée, oil, egg, and vanilla. Mix until dry ingredients are just moistened. Spread over a 10 ½ x 16 (25 x 40 cm) non-stick cookie sheet. Bake 30 minutes, or until lightly browned. While bars are still warm, add chocolate chips, dried cranberries or raisins on top and cut into 35 bars.   *Lentil Puree: Rinse and drain a 19-ounce can of lentils. Place in food processor, add ¼ cup hot water, and puree until the mixture is very smooth, adding more water in small amounts to reach desired consistency, similar to baby food, about 5 minutes. Scrape down sides of the bowl as needed. Refrigerate or freeze unused lentil puree for your next batch!   Recipe adapted from: Pulse Canada

Edible Santa Claus

Ingredients: Pancake or toast without crust (face) Raspberries or sliced strawberries (hat and nose) Sliced bananas (eyes and beard) Blueberries (center of eyes) Yogurt and unsweetened shredded coconut (pompom and hat border) Small plate for each child Butter knife for each child Plastic wrap to cover Santa Claus and share with families Directions: Read a story related to the theme. Teach children about fruit portions with the help of the Canada’s Food Guide. Ask questions about what children know and would like to know about fruit. Make a brainstorming list with them. Sing and dance to the theme. Add empty clean strawberry/blueberry/raspberry containers in the block play area and the drama play area (kitchen corner). Invite children to wash hands and sit down to each prepare a Santa Claus. Teach children how to use a knife and cut a banana on their plate. Let children be guided by their creativity (they do not need to make a Santa if they rather make a Christmas tree for example.) They can choose to place the fruit where they want on their plate. Invite Santa Claus or an elf to come and talk about healthy eating. Take photos during the project and post them on walls. Invite children to also take pictures. During “Circle Time” ask children what they have learned and document their learning. Invite them to draw what they have learned. Share with parents and co-workers. Make your own bread crumbs by saving and drying out bread ends and crusts Get the children involved in the kitchen by grating the zucchini and cheese, mixing, measuring and forming the patties.   Source: Blessed Beyond Crazy

Cheesy Zucchini Bites

Ingredients: 5 cups grated zucchini (about 3 medium or 4 small zucchini) 1 tsp salt 1 cup panko or regular bread crumbs 2 large eggs 1.5 cups grated old cheddar cheese (about 175g) Directions: Preheat oven to 375F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine zucchini and salt in a medium bowl and allow to sit for 10-15 minutes. Strain any excess water and transfer zucchini to the centre of a clean dish towel. Wrap the zucchini up and twist the towel to squeeze as much excess water from the zucchini as possible. Transfer zucchini back to bowl and add panko, eggs and cheese. Mix thoroughly and shape mixture into 2 inch round disks. Bake for 22-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature. Tips: Make your own bread crumbs by saving and drying out bread ends and crusts Get the children involved in the kitchen by grating the zucchini and cheese, mixing, measuring and forming the patties. Makes 16-28 bites Prep time 15 mins Cook time 25 mins Total time 40 mins   Source: http://howtoeat.ca/four-ingredient-cheesy-zucchini-bites/

Baked bannock with berries

Ingredients: 3 cups of flour (use at least half whole wheat flour) 3 tbsp. of sugar 2 tbsp. of baking powder 1 tsp. of salt 1 cup of berries 1 cup of water ¼ cup of oil or melted margarine Directions: Preheat oven to 350⁰ F (180⁰C) In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients with a fork and stir in berries. Stir together the oil and water and add to the bowl with dry ingredients. Work mixture together with hands to form a ball. Knead about 10 times. With floured hands, pat into a circle on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 30 minutes Serves 16 children   Source: LEAP Food Flair, Legacies Now, p.148

Veggie Tree Platter

Ingredients: 3 cups fresh broccoli florets 14 grape tomatoes ½ orange bell pepper, cut into strips Yellow bell pepper for star and trunk Instructions: Rinse and thoroughly dry vegetables. Trim broccoli floret stems. Arrange broccoli on serving platter to form tree shape and tomatoes to form ornaments. Arrange orange bell pepper to form garland and arrange yellow bell pepper for star and trunk Optional: Arrange cauliflower at base of the tree to form snow Chill, covered, until ready to serve with dip.   Recipe adapted from: BettyCrocker.com

Grinch Fruit Kabobs

Ingredients: Mini marshmallows Strawberries, tops sliced off Banana, peeled and sliced Green grapes Toothpicks Instructions: First wash and cut your fruit. On each toothpick, assemble your kabob as follows: one mini marshmallow, one strawberry, one banana slice, and one green grape. Enjoy!   Recipe adapted from: MOMables.com

Snowflake Quesadillas

Ingredients: 2 whole wheat tortillas/wraps ½ cup grated cheese Other sliced vegetables and meat of your choosing Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Fold 1 tortilla in half; then fold into thirds to make one triangle with six layers. Use kitchen shears or paring knife to cut out a snowflake design; unfold. Place remaining uncut tortilla on lined sheet; sprinkle with ½ cup cheese and any other vegetables or meats of your choosing. Lay cut tortilla on top. Bake until cheese is melted, 6 to 8 minutes.   Recipe adapted from: MarthaStewart.com

Cheesy Trees

Ingredients: Mozzarella or other white cheese cut into triangles 3 broccoli florets Pretzel sticks Red bell pepper, diced in small pieces Cheddar cheese or yellow bell pepper for star Instructions: Rinse your broccoli and chop into tiny pieces. Put a pretzel stick through the center of cheese wedge. Then coat in broccoli pieces. Dice a red bell pepper into very small pieces. These are your ornaments. Place yellow bell pepper or cheddar cheese on top for the star.   Recipe adapted from: Super Healthy Kids

Banana muffins

What you need: 1 cup of whole wheat flour 1 cup of quick-cooking oatmeal ½ cup of packed brown sugar 2 tsp. of baking powder 1 egg ½ cup of skim or 1% milk 1 cup of mashed banana ¼ cup of vegetable oil Non-stick cooking spray How to: Pre-heat oven to 400⁰F (200⁰C) Lightly spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray or use paper baking cups. In a large bowl, mix flour, oatmeal, sugar and baking powder. In another bowl, beat the egg and mix in the mashed banana, milk and vegetable oil. Stir the banana mixture into the dry ingredients and mix lightly. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until muffin tops are browned. Loosen muffins and serve warm. Makes 12 medium-sized muffins   Reference: LEAP Food Flair, Legacies Now, p. 158.

Bony Fingers

Ingredients: Mozzarella string cheese sticks 1 Tbsp. cream cheese, softened 1 yellow bell pepper, cored and seeded Instructions: Cut string cheese sticks in half. With a paring knife, shape each stick to resemble fingers. Cut an indentation for the fingernails and carve “knuckle wrinkles.” Spread a small amount of cream cheese in each indent. Cut fingernail shapes out of the bell pepper; place a “nail” to each fingertip. Chill, covered, until ready to serve.   Recipe adapted from: A Little Lunch

Banana Ghost Pops

Ingredients: Bananas Yogurt Coconut Chocolate chips or raisins Instructions: Peel bananas and lay them flat on a cookie sheet. Place in freezer for a few hours. Once frozen, cut each banana into thirds. Put a toothpick or popsicle stick in one end of each banana. Dip banana into yogurt, making sure it is covered all the way around. Roll in coconut on all sides. Use fingers to push coconut on if needed. Once banana is covered in yogurt, place 2 chocolate chips or raisins on for eyes. Push them in good so they will stay. Enjoy! If not eating right away, place ghost bananas on cookie sheet and put them in the freezer to avoid the banana from getting soft and mushy.   Recipe adapted from: Super Healthy Kids

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