Encourage kids to play with food

By Doreen Nagle
Gannett News Service

Who says food has to be boring? Grab the kids and head for the kitchen — they don't need to know fun can also mean nutritious.

Sensational sun-dried tomato and chickpea soup is a colorful, flavorful vegan dish from Sarah Kramer and Tanya Barnard's new cookbook, "The Garden of Vegan." Associated Press

• Sandwich shapes. Draw an outline of an animal on waxed paper and use to cut sandwiches. Put cutout drawing over unsliced sandwich and slice around it.

• Who needs plates? Serve portions in muffin tins, ice cube trays, egg cartons, cupcake baking cups, party hats and to-go containers — even a pocket from an old shirt.

• Hot day? Freeze cut-up fruits, nuts and sturdy veggies inside ice cubes and lick until the goody is revealed. Also, freeze colorful juice in ice-cube trays and let them melt into a glass of clear sparkling water or soda.

• Tuna ice cream cones? Yes! Ice cream cones make a great sandwich alternative: scoop tuna or egg salad into one and top with sesame seeds or shredded carrots.

For a cottage cheese sundae, add chopped nuts, grated cheese, pineapple chunks.

• Green eggs and ham. Food coloring needn't be reserved for Dr. Seuss' birthday. What about blue pancakes, red tofu and yellow mashed potatoes? Serve food coloring up as a condiment occasionally.

• Breakfast picnic. Put cereal in a plastic container and pack with small boxes of soy or regular milk and fresh fruit. Then head out to the park, back yard or living room. Use a similar idea for a full moon dinner picnic on the front lawn. Buy or rent a telescope.

• Create a meal from your child's favorite story. A huge feast à la Harry Potter. Enlist your children to come up with the menu and shopping list.

• Pull out the big turkey platter and let the kids "paint" it with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, sliced or broiled meats, cheeses and breads. Sit the family down to pick and choose their favorites.

• Make batter for pancakes or muffins and put into sandwich bags. Cut a hole in one corner to squeeze the batter through. Let the kids take charge making fanciful designs, initials and so forth, on a cookie sheet or griddle. Bake or fry as usual.

• Play a board game and replace cut-up carrots, celery and apples for game pieces. Trade moves with bites. The winner will have no food left.

• Freeze a peeled banana and spread it with peanut butter, syrup or honey; roll the frozen fruit in chopped nuts, granola or cornflakes.

• Pour vanilla or plain yogurt into a bowl. Chunk up a variety of fruit and serve with toothpicks for dipping à la fondue.

• Make shave ice by pounding cubes in plastic bags. Put the shavings into cups, then pour warmed molasses (great source of iron) over the top.

• Build a log house using peanut butter as cement. Crackers, pretzel sticks, cereal pieces, nuts, raisins and vegetable slices become siding, doors, windows and landscaping. Then make like Godzilla and chomp it down.