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Information for Parents

April Snack Ideas

Grab-and-Go Mix

What you need:

2 cups dried apricots, or banana or apple chips

1 cup Chex cereal — wheat, rice, corn

1 cup peanuts or unblanched whole almonds

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

*Caution: Young children may choke easily on some foods, such as nuts, seeds, and raw vegetables like carrots or celery sticks. Carefully watch children while they are eating these foods.

What to do:

Combine fruit, cereal, nuts, and seeds in a plastic bag.

Shake well

Store in closed bag on airtight container

Keeps up to one month

Makes 4 cups


Rocket Ship Salad

What you need:

1 large banana

1 small can of pineapple chunks

2/3 cup low-fat cottage cheese

What to do:

Peel banana, cut in half crosswise and lengthwise

Place each banana quarter with long flat side down on plate, with the point at the top

Place a pineapple chunk on each side of the banana, near the cut side, to form the base

Spoon some cottage cheese around the bottom to resemble the rocket’s exhaust

Makes 4 servings

No-Bake Cookies

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups oatmeal (not instant)

Boil sugar, margarine, milk, and cocoa together for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add other ingredients. Drop by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper. Makes 3 dozen.

Fun With Food

The children will have a great time on April Fool's Day with this snack activity. Have the children design a portrait of themselves with their food. Give them each a peach or pear for their bodies and a hard boiled egg for their heads. Hair can be made with grated cheese, carrots, or sprouts. If you don't have much to work with, put out what you do have and ask the kids to create something themselves. You will be surprised at what they come up with!

Other snack ideas for April Fool's - Serve juice in a bowl and snacks in a cup!