Sleepovers are an entertaining way for your child to spend time with friends and often involve snacks. Many common sleepover snacks, such as potato chips and ice cream, are high in fat and calories. Several other options are tasty but also supply nutrients. If you and your child are planning a sleepover, keep some of these delicious and nutritious ideas in mind.
Sandwich Faces
Sandwiches are an easy snack to prepare and can incorporate many nutritious ingredients. Rosalind Peters notes in her book, "Midnight Feast Magic: Sleepover Fun and Food," that encouraging guests to create faces with sandwich ingredients is an entertaining activity that also ensures that your child and her guests eat some healthy foods. Provide whole wheat bread that has been cut into circles and several types of vegetables and other ingredients. Black olive slices can be eyes, carrot sticks can be mouths and shredded lettuce can become hair. Red bell peppers, alfalfa sprouts and cucumbers are additional items that can make faces.
Fruit "Fondue"
Many fondue recipes call for melted chocolate, which is high in sugar and calories. Using yogurt in place of chocolate is a more nutritious way to enjoy dipping different foods and will supply your child and his guests with calcium and protein. Stir a little honey into plain yogurt to sweeten the snack without adding sugar. Serve sliced or chopped fruits, such as bananas, apples, cherries, strawberries or pineapple, recommends Jamie Kyle McGillian in her book, "Sleepover Party!: Games and Giggles for a Fun Night." Pretzels are another low-fat and low-calorie food that can be dipped in yogurt.
Pizza Toasts
Pizza is a common sleepover food because it is easy to order, but many made-to-order pizzas are high in saturated fat and salt. Homemade pizza can be much more nutritious and McGillian recommends using Italian bread as the crust, which keeps the portions appropriate for a snack. Supply low-sodium pizza sauce, low-fat mozzarella cheese and a variety of healthy toppings, such as peppers, mushrooms, olives and onions. Have your child and each of her guests build their own pizza and then heat them in a toaster oven until the cheese has melted.
Soft Pretzels
Making soft pretzels can be an engaging activity for your child and his sleepover guests. Peters suggests dying the pretzel mix with food coloring to make the finished product the favorite color of the participants. Dissolve 3 tbsp. of active yeast in a bowl with 1 1/2 cups of warm water. Meanwhile, combine 4 cups of whole wheat flour, 1 tbsp. of sugar and 1 tsp. of salt in a large bowl. Add the flour mixture to the yeast a little at a time. Stir slightly and add one beaten egg. Add the food coloring and stir until completely mixed. Knead the dough 20 times and cut into enough pieces for each guest. Allow each guest to roll his pretzel into his desired shape. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown.
References
- "Midnight Feast Magic: Sleepover Fun and Food"; Rosalind Peters; 2008
- "Sleepover Party!: Games and Giggles for a Fun Night"; Jamie Kyle McGillian; 2007
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