Kid-friendly food ideas for upcoming health fair?

JaclynnGail
JaclynnGail Posts: 204 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Our elementary school's second annual "Family Food, Fun, and Fitness" event is coming up on April 24. I'm our school's wellness coordinator and am in the process of planning out the event. Last year's was great and I would like for this year's to be even better! I have lots of vendors signed up to come and do different activities...the hospital will be doing a hand-washing demo...there will be a dentist, a tennis instructor, the local martial arts place, the natural foods store, the indoor aquatic center, a gymnastics place...you get the idea. It's going to be lots of fun! Last year, we had over 200 students and their families show up. I am looking into adding a few booths though...we received a grant through the Department of Education, so we have a few hundred extra dollars to spend...woo-hoo! Anyways...I am sitting here going through my binder and looking at putting together two fun food activities and could use some input...especially if you have elementary-aged kids.

1. The "Scary Produce" booth. At this booth, I want to have lots of pre-cut samples of fun, out-of-the-ordinary fruits and vegetables for kids to try. Things they don't eat every day...I'm thinking some sliced jicama, kumquats, mangoes, etc...and maybe some fun dip recipes they can sample and take with them. Can you think of some produce items and/or easy dip recipes that might work well for this?

2. Last year we had a booth where kids got to sample three different all-natural fruit juices and vote on their favorite. This year, I am thinking of doing something similar with healthy options of pre-packaged snack foods...maybe different types of granola bars or something like that. I'd like to have some samples that are easily found and easily affordable, as well as an option or two that are more specialized (like from a natural foods grocery). Any thoughts here?

Thanks, in advance, for any suggestions! I have a committee meeting on Tuesday, but figured some of you would probably have brilliant ideas that we haven't thought of yet.

Replies

  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/healthy-snacks-for-kids-on-the-go
  • alexisguardian
    alexisguardian Posts: 15
    For #2 you can try Real Fruit Strips or the like. They can be found at Walmart and other stores. Instead of fruit snacks, fruit roll ups, etc. these are made with actual fruit.
  • Kandygirl
    Kandygirl Posts: 249 Member
    what a cool idea. for #1 : try starfruit or blood oranges. they are fun different tastes.
  • mamamc03
    mamamc03 Posts: 1,067 Member
    Do Make your own hummus dip & let them experiment with different add ins...

    PB2 science experiment...changing the powder into Peanut Butter

    Ants on a log....using low fat PB or PB2 on celery sticks...let them choose thier "ants" from almonds, raisins, craisins, dried blueberries, apple chunks, etc

    Pizza Parlor...get some toaster ovens & let them make a healthy personal pizza on english muffins. Have things like spinach, low sodium sauce, ground turkey, ground lean beef, chicken, etc.

    Maybe a taste testing booth for dried veggies like green beans, carrots, squash, etc.
  • riouxha
    riouxha Posts: 995 Member
    I used to work with kids in low-income families who basically relied on pizza and ice cream from the corner store as grocery stores weren't within walking distance. one of the things we did were using pomegranates to teach the little kids portio control. They put a smock on, and cracked the pomegranate themselves and fished out the seeds to eat. its messy and kids love pomegranate seeds. they taste like sour candy. another thing we did was apples and peanut butter. high-protein and healthy. and if you like, frozen banana treats. you roll a banana in peanut butter and crushed up almonds and freeze them. its like a healthy frozen treat as opposed to ice cream or something of the like.

    you can also teach them about healthier snacks for stuff like the movies, or for hikes. make your own trailmixes and pita or kale chips are always fun and easy (and yummy). and dried apple rings, peaches, apricots are all sweet like candy but much better for them
  • JaclynnGail
    JaclynnGail Posts: 204 Member
    Thanks for all the super ideas! I'm so excited for this fair...I think it's going to be better than last year!

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