Palm Tree Treat for Kids

Here is another cute, healthy treat I found on the Internet.  It's amazing what kind of art you can make with fruits and veggies.  This is something you could have your kids help with that would be fun AND nutritious.  My students at school have been loving the creations, and my son has been giving me pointers as I am creating these little masterpieces. Ha ha!  FUN!!

What you'll need:

• A large dinner plate
• 1 large carrot sliced thinly
• 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced 
• 2 small bananas, peeled and sliced

*Tip: Cut the bananas last so they don't turn brown.

Ice Tray Meal for Kids

This is a great way to get kids to eat. I saw this on idea on the Internet and thought I'd see what I could come up with myself.  It was funny because after I made it, I thought it looked really good and almost made one for myself.  I have OCD, so I don't like my food to touch (just like a lot of kids), so I can most definitely see the appeal of this colorful, fun, healthy way to serve a meal to small kids.  I would have added something besides the gummies in that one compartment, but I was saving my kiwi for another project.  Other than those, it's pretty healthy!

Things you might want to include:
granola (I used peanut butter.)
celery
low-fat cheese
apple
Annie's organic Bunnies crackers
low-sodium, lean turkey sausage
strawberries
nuts
goldfish crackers
roasted coconut chips
sugar snap peas
pineapple
grapes
low-sodium turkey jerky
carrots
kiwi
banana
orange slices

Two Birds and a Tree Treat

I saw this on the Internet and just had to make it myself.  It's so cute and a good way to get kids to eat their protein!  It's a very simple and healthy snack.

Ingredients:
1 brown, cage-free egg
1 Horizon organic Colby cheese stick
9 green grapes



Directions:
1. Boil the egg for 20 minutes, peel, and slice in half. Let cool.
 
2. Slice the cheese stick in half, length-wise, then make two slits to make the branches.  Be careful or they'll break.

3. Arrange the grapes around the tree branches to look like leaves.

4. Cut two triangles of cheese for the bird beaks.

5. Place one peppercorn on each egg half for the eyes.


Nutritional Info:
1 brown egg
70 calories
5 g fat
1 g carbohydrates
6 g protein
195 mg cholesterol
65 mg sodium

1 Horizon organic Colby cheese stick
110 calories
9 g fat
1 g carbohydrates
7 g protein
30 mg cholesterol
170 mg sodium

1/2 cup green grapes
52 calories
0 g fat
13.5 g carbohydrates
0.5 g protein
0 mg cholesterol
1.5 mg sodium


 

Black-Eyed Pea Salad

To start off the New Year, a lot of people eat black-eyed peas in some fashion or another.  This recipe was given to me by my friend, Brandy. She served it at her New Year's Day Cookout, and it was fabulous!!! It is loaded with Vitamin C, protein, iron, and potassium.  Yum!!!

Ingredients:

1 (16 oz) bag of frozen black-eyed peas

1/4 cup chopped, fresh cilantro

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 Tbsp grape seed oil

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup diced red bell pepper

1/3 cup diced red onion

1 cup diced pineapple

2 cups lightly steamed, chopped kale

*makes 5 cups

Directions:

1. Prepare black-eyed peas according to the directions on the package. Simmer only until al dente, drain, and let cool for 1 hour.

2. Whisk together cilantro and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl.

3. Add cooked black-eyed peas, bell pepper, and red onion, tossing to coat. 

4. Cover and chill for 8 hours..

5. Add pineapple and kale into the mixture just before serving. 

Nutritional Info for 1 cup:

Calories: 208

Fat: 6.4g

Saturated fat:  0.42 g

Polyunsaturated fat: 4.18 g

Monounsaturated fat: 1.24g

Sodium: 32.9 mg

Fiber: 6.5 g

Protein: 9.34 g

Potassium: 166.7mg

Cholesterol:  0mg

Sugars: 4.4g

Carbohydrates: 31g

Vitamin A: 96.5%

Vitamin C: 123.3%

Calcium: 6.4%

Iron: 13.94%