The classic kids’ party can be a bit of a minefield if you’re a parent hoping to have some kind of control over your child’s intake of nutrient-free food! And while no parent wants to serve brown bread and water on their child’s special day, it is possible to strike a balance between wholesome nutritious food and fun-filled party treats. But look, we’re not gonna lie - making healthy food look good is the key to success here - so factor in some precious prep-time to make sure those nutrient-rich foods look their delicious best!
And remember - the key to keeping kids' sugar intake to a minimum is by filling them up with good food before unleashing them on the desserts table!
STARTERS
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- Fill bowls with freshly popped, lightly salted popcorn
- Chop up some veggies - fresh carrots and cucumbers, capsicums and cherry tomatoes. Add some pretzel sticks and a few simple dips like hummus or cream cheese
- Throw on some mini pickles, nuts (if you are sure there are no allergies) and sliced hard-boiled eggs
THE MAINS
- Sandwich roll-ups - create pinwheel sandwiches using wholemeal pita filled with cheese and vegemite, avocado spread or tomato and cheese
- Corn-on-the-cob (cut into thirds)
- Homemade mini pizzas topped with tomato sauce and cheese
- Zucchini fritters (see resources below for details)
DRINKS
- Make a signature ‘birthday smoothie’ with your child’s favourite fruits
- Make your own juice if you have a juicer
- Add some sparkle with soda water if ‘fizzy’ drinks are a must have
- Make ice-cubes filled with fruit or edible flowers to pop in drinks
DESSERT
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- Fruit kebabs - use a mellon-baller or cookie cutters to make great shapes and stack them on skewers
- Choc dipped bananas and strawberries
- DIY ice cream cake - check out our resources below for a healthy take on making your own delicious cake!
RESOURCES
Jamie Oliver’s party tips: https://www.jamieoliver.com/news-and-features/features/healthy-party-food-for-kids/
Eating Well party food tips:
Zucchini Fritters:
https://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/zucchini-and-potato-fritters-78
Ice Cream recipes:
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