Christmas Appetizers for Kids

Tempt kids with an array of brightly colored bite-size vegetables.

When planning a Christmas dinner for your family, don't forget to provide plenty of kid-friendly appetizers. Delicious appetizers will keep children from food-induced frustration until the holiday meal is served. For best results, serve easy-to-eat snacks and finger foods that kids can munch on while playing and socializing. Keep the appetizers light and healthy so that the young guests' appetites aren't ruined for dinner.

Fruit and Vegetable Trays

Entice kids into eating vegetables by cutting them into bite-size pieces and providing flavorful dips. Arrange baby carrots, cut celery stalks, cherry tomatoes and green pepper pieces onto a festive red or green tray. Set small bowls of hummus, and creamy ranch and French onion dip in the center of the tray so each child can choose her favorite flavor. Fill another tray with apple slices, grapes, strawberries and melon balls, and provide bowls of caramel sauce and vanilla yogurt for dipping.

Small Sandwiches

Cure kids' munchies with small sandwiches cut into whimsical holiday-inspired shapes. Make a variety of kid-friendly sandwiches, such as turkey or ham and cheese, grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly. Press Christmas tree-, gingerbread man-, angel- and star-shaped cookie cutters into the centers of the sandwiches to create festive shapes. Arrange the small sandwiches on a tray as easy-to-eat finger foods.

Christmas Bagel Wreaths

Kids will be attracted to the bright color of a tasty and festive bagel wreath. Ideal for Christmas, these bagel snacks feature red and green vegetables. Toast bagel halves and slather them with cream cheese. For smaller snacks, use mini-bagels instead of the full-size versions. You can tint the cream cheese green with a few drops of food coloring if you desire. Cut red, green and yellow bell peppers into tiny squares and sprinkle them over the cream cheese to decorate the "wreath." You can substitute the peppers for other red and green foods, such as olives, celery and tomatoes.

Reindeer Food

Fill a bowl with a sweet and savory snack mix labeled "reindeer food," a name which will especially appeal to younger kids. Create the mix by combining cashews, peanuts, yogurt-covered raisins, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, small pretzels and popcorn in a large bowl. Supply baggies or small bowls so kids can grab the snacks and go.

References

• Disney Family Fun: Mini Bagel Wreaths
• CDKitchen: Reindeer Nibbles Recipes