When you serve snacks at kids' parties, the youngsters often come to the table, grab what they want and run off eating it. To make it more interesting--and civilized--turn the snack table into an activity center. Put out fresh, attractive ingredients; have an adult attend each station; and let the kids participate in making their own delicious party treats.
Mini Foods
Party snacks should be easy to eat and handle, so think mini when you're planning the menu. Put a toaster oven on the table, and let kids make their own pizzas. They can start with an English muffin and add their choice of cheeses, vegetables and meats. Put the pizza under the broiler, and it will be ready in a minute.
Try Shrunken Sandwiches, suggests the Family Fun website, a site with recipes for kids' snacks. Give children butter knives to cut ham and cheese into small squares. Offer a choice of crackers to create mini-sandwiches. For a messier version, offer peanut butter and jelly instead of the cold cuts.
Fruit Galore
Fruit is easy for kids to handle, and popular because it's sweet and juicy. Let children make their own fruit salads or fruit skewers as party snacks. Provide butter knives and big chunks of fruit for the guests to cut into bite-size pieces. Strawberries are good to use; so are peaches, bananas and apples. Sprinkle the fruit with lemon juice so it doesn't turn brown so quickly. For fruit salads, give the kids small bowls; for little skewers, provide toothpicks.
Consider a nourishing banana split, too, recommends the Healthy Kids Snacks website. An adult can slice a banana lengthwise and place it in a small bowl. The children add their own toppings, including blended or frozen yogurt, crushed pineapple and fresh blueberries, and granola plus nuts.
Drink Center
Let the kids have a blast making their own drinks. You can put out a variety of juices and encourage them to become chemists as they measure and mix different amounts of each one. Or set up blenders for making smoothies. The youngsters can experiment with a variety of yogurts, fresh fruits, juice, milk and ice cubes. They can also add extras, says the Kids Cooking Activities website. Interesting additions include peanut butter, chopped carrots and cream of coconut.
Edible Containers
Have the guests make snacks and put them in edible containers. Family Fun suggests letting the children chop and mix Waldorf salad ingredients--celery, apples, walnuts, raisins, a little mayo and lemon juice--and spoon the salad into ice cream cones. They also can fill tart shells with pudding and fresh fruit, or baked tortilla bowls with beans, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes.
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