How to Make Five Healthy Finger Foods
With so much attention focused on the problem of childhood obesity, parents want to make sure their children are consuming snacks that are wholesome. Healthy finger foods can be delicious as well as nutritious, while also being quick and easy enough to prepare that children can help. When youngsters have a hand in preparation, chances are they will be more eager to consume the treats. You can make healthy finger foods when your children ask for an after-school snack, during family gatherings, or as a snack for yourself. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Celery
- Peanut butter
- Cream cheese
- Carrots
- Raisins
- Assorted fruit (grapes, apples, bananas, melon, strawberries, pineapple chunks, etc.)
- Round crackers
- Hard-boiled egg
- Assorted raw vegetables (carrot, olives, grape tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts, sunflower seeds, red pepper, etc.)
- 2 cups of raw, hulled sunflower seeds
- 1 cup pine nuts or peanuts, raw pumpkin seeds, raisins and dried cranberries
- Slice of whole-wheat bread
- Cheese
- 1/2-inch thick slice of ham or turkey
- Lettuce
- Gherkins
- Olives
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Toothpicks
- Mixing bowl
- Large spoon
- Skewers
Instructions
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1
Wash celery stalks and cut them into 2-inch pieces. Spread with peanut butter or cream cheese. Top with grated carrots and raisins to create ants on a log.
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2
Wash a variety of colorful fruit, cut them into bite-size pieces and arrange the fruit on a plate. Insert a toothpick into each piece of fruit to make fun little skewers for children to eat the mini fruit shish kebab with.
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3
Slice a hard-boiled egg. Place one thin slice of egg onto a round cracker as the base for what is known as an egg head. Make a face on the egg slice with various vegetable garnishes, such as olive slices or grape tomato slices for eyes, grated carrots or alfalfa sprouts for hair, a carrot triangle or sunflower seeds for a nose, or a piece of carrot or red pepper for a mouth.
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4
Cut a bread slice, cheese, and ham or turkey into 1/2-inch cubes. Tear lettuce leaf into 1-inch by 1-inch pieces. Slide the cubes of food onto the shish kebab skewer, alternating with lettuce leaves and an occasional pickle or olive to make a sandwich on a stick. Dip pieces of food in mayonnaise or mustard while eating, if desired.
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5
Measure the sunflower seeds, pine nuts or peanuts, pumpkin seeds, raisins and cranberries and combine them in a mixing bowl to create a cranberry nut snack mix. Stir until well combined.
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Tips & Warnings
Encourage children to wash hands thoroughly before starting work in the kitchen, and while working.
Always supervise children when using sharp knives.
References
- Photo Credit Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images
