Fun, Fast. Fresh, Frugal Foods for Kids

30+ Healthy Treats

About 20 years ago, I taught in a private Montessori school. To promote better nutrition and learning, the children were asked to bring only healthy foods in their lunches. We served no refined sugar and tried to encourage fresh foods. As this was in the days before microwaves were in use in schools, we had to be creative with the foods we served the children. Here is a list of some of our best suggestions for lunches, snacks and even party foods.

Fruit tray with grapes, orange slices, peaches, kiwi slices, bananas (cut in half with skins on). Use any fruit in season.

Creamy peanut dip- use for fruits or crackers and pretzels. Mix equal parts plain or vanilla yogurt with creamy peanut butter

Apples-tart like Macintosh or Jonathon with peanut dip

cheese cubes or slices, summer sausage slices, cracker assortment (serve with toothpicks)

pinwheels (flour tortilla spread with cream cheese, meat and/or cheese slices and romaine lettuce leaf--rolled up, sliced and closed with a toothpick (called Lavash in Lebanon)

relish tray with sweet and dill pickles and olives

salads with fresh veggie blend ( grind up your favorite veggies, store in frig and garnish a nice romaine or spring mix salad.

Olive oil dressing with oil, balsamic vinegar and rosemany

cheese fondue ( melt Campbell's cheddar soup in a chafing dish or make a suace of cheese cubes, milk and flour) use long skewers and serve with sourdough and rye bread cubes, celery, mushrooms

Veggie tray with dip--baby carrots, colored peppers, cucumber slices, cauliflower and broccoli florets, zucchini slices, mushrooms, grape tomatoes

Crustless PBJ, egg salad or tunafish sandwiches cut into fun shapes with cookie cutter

Assorted nuts to crack

Cheezits-only this brand has 4 grams of protein per serving!

Deviled eggs (hard-boil for 10minutes in salted water, cool, peel, slice lengthwise, remove yolk and mash yolk with mayo and mustard, fill empty egg whites with yolk mixture and sprinkle with paprika.

Polish Roses: clean and trim scallions, spread any lunchmeat slices with cream cheese and roll around scallion