Healthy Foods Your Kids Will Love – Great Ideas for Special Occasions

Birthday Party

An important part of every child’s upbringing are birthday parties. These should be happy events. High-calorie foods, such as cake and ice cream, are typically part of those special occasions, and you should be confident that your child’s body can handle the extravaganza. If you prefer to stay with healthier choices, try a carrot cake. Unfortunately, your regular carrot cake is also high in fat. To slim it down, you can use prune puree or applesauce, which will keep the cake moist, and cut down on oil. Serve with non-fat frozen yogurt instead of regular ice cream.

Carrot Cake

Makes 12 servings

Ingredients:
1/3 cup pitted prunes + 2 Tbsp. hot water (or 1/3 cup prune puree)
1 cup unbleached white flour
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 large egg
1 large egg white
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. lemon zest
2 tsp. canola oil
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tbsp. corn syrup
1 cup grated carrot (from 1 medium/large carrot)
1/3 cup golden raisins
nonstick cooking spray

Frosting:
3 oz. reduced-fat cream cheese (at room temperature)
1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Process prunes with hot water in a food processor until smooth. Pour in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon into another mixing bowl. Lightly beat egg and egg white and add to the bowl with the prune puree. Whisk together with sugar, zest, oil, applesauce and corn syrup until smooth. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix well. Stir in raisins and carrot. Pour batter into 8″ x 8″ nonstick baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for about 40 minutes or until top is springy to the touch. While cake is baking, beat powdered sugar gradually into the cream cheese, then add lemon juice and vanilla and beat until smooth. Remove the cake from the pan and cool it on a rack before frosting. Store in the refrigerator and serve cold.

Slumber Party

Sleep-overs are wonderful events in a child’s life. The prospect of having friends over to play with until bed-time can be a thrill. Perhaps, it gets a bit adventurous if sleeping outdoors or in a tent in the backyard is involved. There can be a gathering around an outside fireplace or open camp fire with scary story telling and marshmallows roasting. The possibilities are endless. It may be a good idea, though, not to get the kids so exited that they can’t fall asleep eventually. So, if you serve snacks and treats in the later hours, make sure they’re not laden with sugar which pumps up their energy. And keep portion sizes under control too. Full little stomachs right before bed may cause you a restless night. Chances are the kids are going to be so busy having fun that they won’t need a huge meal, just lots of good grab and go snacks. Here are a few suggestions for snacks that don’t have to be refrigerated, so you can keep them outside.

Ingredients:
Air-popped popcorn
Pretzels
Trail mix*
Fruit roll-ups
Frozen juice bars
Hummus dip and veggies (baby carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, broccoli)
Water and non-caffeinated diet sodas

*It can be fun to let the kids put together their own trail mix. Just provide an assortment of dried fruit, raisins, nuts and seeds and some small plastic bags.

Picnic

When was the last time you enjoyed an old-fashioned family picnic? Remember the days when your mom filled a gigantic picnic basket with delicious sandwiches, pasta, potato salad, coleslaw, cakes and other desserts. Remember the whole family spreading out comfortably on blankets or camping chairs, having a ball. Remember how ravenous you felt after a swim in the cold lake and how wonderful everything tasted because you were soo hungry? If you don’t have childhood memories like these, it may be time to start creating some for the next generation.

Ingredients:
Oven roasted turkey sandwiches (with all your favorite fixings)
Pasta salad
Potato salad
Coleslaw
Assorted veggies (baby carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, broccoli) for a dip of your choice
Watermelon wedges
Fruit bars
Water, fruit juice, diet sodas

Especially in warm weather, use a cooler for the drinks and perishable items (turkey, pasta, potato salad, coleslaw and dip) and keep non-perishable foods (potato chips, fruit, etc.) separate from perishable ones.

Holiday Season

All cultures in every part of the world have holidays. No matter what and how you celebrate, holidays are about family and food. For kids, this is an especially magic time full of wonder and expectation. It is also the time when everyone, kids and adults alike, tend to indulge a little bit too much in all the delicious holiday traditions. So, don’t let your guard down all the way. Here are some ideas how to navigate the treacherous terrain of buffets and dinner tables at the most wonderful time of the year.

Ingredients:
Creamy feta and spinach dip with raw vegetables or baked pita chips
Roast turkey (with your favorite stuffing and fixings)
Baked ham (with assorted mustards)
Mashed potatoes
Glazed carrots
Salad with light balsamic vinaigrette
Assorted whole-grain bakery rolls
Relish tray (sweet pickles, olives, peppers, green onions)
Frozen yogurt & fruit parfait

Graduation Party

Accomplishments deserve to be celebrated. Graduations from kindergarten, grade school, high school and college are important milestones in a child’s life. Proud parents want to acknowledge the hard work and success of their young ones by throwing them a great party. Everything should be perfect at such occasions, including the food. Here are some suggestions for a Mexican theme.

Ingredients:
Salsa and assorted cut veggies (baby carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, broccoli)
Nachos and baked tortilla chips
Taco bar:
• Spicy ground beef in a crock pot (Extra lean beef with Mexican seasoning mix)
• Lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, black beans, salsa, olives and onions in bowls
• Warm corn taco shells in a basket
Cup cakes
Water, lemonade, diet soft drinks

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