Healthy Cooking Alternatives for Your Kids' Parties

Want to do something different for your child's birthday? Then why not have a cooking party? Kids of all ages enjoy making their own food, it gives them a sense of accomplishment and usually the kids can't wait to eat their masterpiece. Have healthy ingredients mixed in and they won't even realize it because they will be so excited that they are cooking. Make sure to ask if anyone has a food allergy. This should be written on the invitation, so if someone does have an allergy, you can modify ingredients ahead of time. Do not wait until the guests arrive to find out, this could change your entire menu, leaving you in a bit of a jam.

Pizza Party

This is a great theme because you have so many options depending upon the age group. For the younger kids (2 yrs) you can use either English muffins, or pitas. The older kids will use dough (available at your local pizza place or at the grocery store) Depending upon the size of the dough, you should be able to cut it in half. You want each child to make its own individual, personal pizza. Give each child either dough, pita or English muffin. If using dough, have them press down on it to flatten. Then give each child a small cup of sauce to spread on their pizza and then a small cup of shredded mozzarella cheese to put on top. Toppings can be as healthy or as unhealthy as you choose. Make sure to have many different toppings for the kids to choose from. Mushrooms, broccoli, peppers, and pineapples are a few healthy ideas. Then you can have the traditional, not so healthy pepperoni and sausage. Depending upon the size of your oven, you should be able to fit 4-6 pizzas on each rack. Bake at 375° for about 8-12 minutes in a preheated oven (depending upon which crust is used, the English muffins will not take as long as the dough) Just make sure to write down the kid's names as you place the pizza in the oven so everyone gets back their own. While the kid's are waiting for their pizzas to cook have them make macaroni necklaces. Get string or plastic laces from the arts and crafts store. Have a few different boxes of macaroni shapes and place each shape in a large bowl. Tri- color pasta is a good idea if you want to add some color, or just put some markers on the table and let the kids pick their own colors to decorate with. By the time they are done with making their necklaces, the pizza should be ready.

Simple Sweets

Having dessert doesn't have to be bad for you. If you're looking for a healthy alternative, there are many options. If your planning on just having desserts for your party, then have it after lunchtime, and make sure to write on invitation to "save some room after eating your lunch so you can make some desserts at this simple sweets party" And always make sure to write on invitation if anyone has a food allergy. It's also a good idea to let the parents know that you will be making healthier desserts instead of just loading the kids up on sugar.

Fresh fruit salad is always a refreshing treat. Kids love making this because it takes a lot of preparation. Once again, depending upon the age group you may have to cut some of the fruits for the younger kids, or they can use a melon scooper. You can make this simple for the real little ones and a little more involved for the older ones. For the little ones who cannot use a knife there are still plenty of fruits that you can use. Bananas, kiwis, watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew can all be prepared with a melon scooper. After cutting and seeding the melons, give each child their own slice and melon scooper. You can either make one large fruit salad or have a bowl for each child. The bananas may not be as easy to get 'balls' out of like the melons unless the bananas are very ripe. Have each child mix the fruit together and enjoy. The older kids have endless options. For a citrus salad you'll need different colored grapefruits, oranges, clemintine's and tangerines. The great thing about fruit salads is that you can mix any fruit together.

Dessert shells (usually made of angel food cake) are a healthier alternative to cupcakes. Put your favorite fruit inside and add a touch of whipped cream on top, and you have a simple, delicious dessert.

Peanut butter covered pretzel rods are also a healthy, fun snack to make. First you'll want the peanut butter to be soft. Leave out at room temperature and mix until thin enough to spread over pretzel rod. Leave a few inches at bottom of rod so you can hold it. Then roll in your favorite topping. Carob chips, granola, and oatmeal flakes are a healthy option. If you're not worried about sugar then sprinkles, chocolate chips, and crushed cookies are delicious.

Lasagna roll-ups

Boil the lasagna noodles the night before or the morning of the party so that they will be cool to work with. Give each child its own bowl of sauce, shredded mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan cheese. A small disposable aluminum lasagna tin is great for not only cooking, but for taking left overs home. One lasagna noodle each for the little kids is enough. Depending upon how big or hungry the bigger kids are, figure on them using three lasagna noodles. First have them put sauce on the bottom of the tin, so the noodles will not stick. Do not prepare noodles in tin because when you roll it in the sauce it will get allover your hands. So on a separate plate lay the noodle down flat. Place a couple of tablespoons of ricotta on the end of the noodle. Sprinkle with mozzarella, parmesan cheese and start rolling the side with the ingredients. Place in tin and put a generous amount of sauce on top. If you love cheese as much as I do then you can sprinkle some more mozzarella on top. Bake in a preheated 350° oven and cover with foil. Bake until cheese is melted, about 20 minutes. Let rest a few minutes before eating. Enjoy!

A nice touch to any food party is to let the kids decorate their own chef's hat. You can purchase the paper hats at a party supply store. Have each child personalize it with markers, crayons and stickers.