Oh my goodness. I think you’re going to LOVE this idea. It’s as EASY as can be, and it’s absolutely no fail. Whatever food you’ve got in the house — raisins, fresh veggies, nuts, cheese, frozen peas, olives, and on, and on — can be used.
This is why it’s such a hit at our house:
1) It works with anything we have on hand. You can go savory with olives and pickles and cheese and broccoli and almonds and cherry tomatoes. Or think rainbow, and pick red raspberries, orange carrots, green peas, and blueberries. You can use dried, fresh or frozen foods. Raid your pantry. No special ingredients required!
2) It’s creative. Our kids love making patterns and designing their letters. Will they go upper case or lower case? How about script? (As a bonus: it gets them thinking about typography — something I hope all of my kids have at least passable knowledge about. Is the O they are making rounder, or more elongated — and what sort of personality does each letter have?) If your kids aren’t spellers yet, you can create their name-in-food for them as a surprise. Or, you could even write their letters on the parchment with pencil, and have your child trace the letters with food.
3) You can customize the snack with your child’s favorite foods, or, you can use it as a great way to introduce kids to new flavors. Ask them to make each letter out of a different food! And you can manage the portions by having the kids make the letters bigger or smaller. If your child has a long name, you could go with initials and make them big. Or use the full name and make them small. Or maybe use a nickname.
4) It’s easy! The how to is pretty darn simple. We use strips of baking parchment for our “trays” because we can make them as long as we need. Then, I set out the building materials. Things like raisins and cherry tomatoes and peas can be set out as is. For foods like carrots or cheese, some simple chopping will be required. Try 5 or 6 food options today, and next week, you can try a whole different assortment of ingredients. You can arrange the options on one big plate. Or place them each in a little bowl.
5) We’ve noticed our kids are more relaxed and tell us more about their day if their hands are busy and the chatting is casual. This activity works wonderfully for encouraging conversation.
6) Though it’s simple as can be and requires nothing special to pull it off, this snack activity feels special, it feels out of the ordinary. And kids of all ages (meaning YOU too!) will love working on these. There are no rules or lines to stay within — it’s the best sort of playing-with-your-food.
We all know school days can be long and hard for kids. When they get home from school, my kids are sometimes completely wiped out. Maybe they’re mastering a new math concept and their brain is exhausted. Or maybe they had an emotional exchange with a friend and are feeling tender-hearted. Whatever they might be feeling, we’re all about an after-school snack as soon as they get home. It’s one part recharging with some sustenance, and it’s another part connecting with the kids as they report about their day. Anytime we can make after-school snacks feel a little special is aces in my book!
How about you? Would your kids enjoy something like this? I’ll bet you’ve got everything you need for this snack in your kitchen right this minute. Try it with your kids today!
I did the survey! My baby is too young for this snack idea, but I think my pre-k niece would love it!
I just completed the survey.
I completed the survey.
Completed the survey…love to see the effort you are putting in to keep your blog relevant and meaningful to readers!
I completed the survey
I just completed the survey!
Love the snack idea. Survey complete!
I thought it was really strange that there were 158 comments on a snack post. And then I scrolled back up and saw that there was a survey in the italics.
And so I completed the survey and now I’m commenting!
I set out snacks like these for my son during the day though I put them in muffin tins. And we don’t make letters. :)
Just completed the survey :-)
Survey completed.
Survey completed!
completed the survey!
I liked the survey. I liked that you asked our opinions. Checking your site daily, yours is the only one, is my “me” time.
I did the survey :)
Done!
I completed the survey. Hope you are having a wonderful week!
Completed the survey. Thanks for your blog!
I did the survey
Took the survey. Thanks Gabrielle for a great snack idea! Catherine
Survey Complete! Thank you. :)
Survey completed. Thanks!
Survey complete! :) love the snack idea- I wish my kids would eat little cherry tomatoes!
Great snack idea. Survey completed – thank you for taking the time to solicit feedback from readers. You will never satisfy 100% of the readers 100% of the time, but it’s nice to know you care about the feedback.
What are the white items from the first T in Betty’s name and the N in June;s name?
Survey all done :)
Survey completed! What a fun snack idea!
survey completed.
I completed the survey.
Completed the survey. Great snack idea! I have very picky eaters right now and hope this helps guide them to a variety of foods that are healthy.
I filled it out! :)
Survey says… complete! :) Thanks!
Cute idea! And yes, I remember always *NEEDING* a snack when I came home from school.
Survey done!
i filled out the survey!
Survey done – thanks for keeping it short!
I completed the survey. Sad to have to check the 55-46 box. I guess that I am a grandma reader not a mom reader :)
Completed the survey!
Loved the snack idea! Completed the survey.
Completed the survey!
Completed the survey, thanks for your great writing!
We try to eat healthy and include nuts as a breakfast snack. Survey done.
Thanks for the idea :)!
Cute easy snack idea. I took the survey!
Completed the survey!
This is such a fun and easy snack idea! You’r such a great mom! Also, survey completed :)
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Survey complete!
Survey completed!
I took the survey!!
done! survey completed!
I completed the survey!
I completed the survey!