Preschool Valentine Party Foods

Planning a Valentine's Day party for preschool-age kids can be so much fun. Keep the decorations simple, and inexpensive, because the healthy food choices will be the hit of your party. Whether you are making a list of party food selections for parents to bring to your preschool party, or you are a parent who needs to bring a dish to your child's classroom party, you should try these favorites.

Kid-Friendly Fruit & Cheese Trays

For healthy finger foods display fruit-filled trays, arranging pre-cut colorful fruits and berries, on either a divided-section platter (or a round plate) sectioning the different fruits around a center dip bowl. Fill with yummy dips as suggested in the article "Naturally Sweet & Healthy Valentine's Treats" .

The colorful, sliced fruits are kid-magnets; add cubes of natural jack cheese, and these fruit and cheese trays will decorate any table on which they are presented. These are so appealing that the fruit and cheese bites are usually eaten quickly, so please make sure all fruits and cheeses are cut into bite size pieces or slices.

Bowls of Whole-Grain & Animal Crackers

Instead of filling bowls with unhealthy potato chips, candy or pretzels (chocking hazards) why not fill bowls with several varieties of whole wheat crackers and non-frosted animal-cracker cookies. If your kids can see the details on their animal crackers (sans frosting) they will spend hours acting out their animals with the other children, and you'll get spontaneous zoo theater.

Heart-Shape Sandwiches & Juices

Sandwiches can be made with lunch meats or strawberry jam, and using heart-shape cookie cutters press down through all sandwich layers, cutting out ready-made heart sandwiches. Fill a tray full of heart-shape (or square-cut) sandwiches garnished all around with cherry tomatoes.

Boxed fruit juices are probably the best way to keep spills from occurring, and preschoolers love them. Check labels for high juice content to keep the party festivities healthy.

Simple Classroom Decorations

Banners can be made stringing inexpensive, boxed cartoon-character Valentines attached along ribbon streamers. Red serving trays and bowls can be used, along with several red and white heart-shape doilies on the table tops.

Other Valentine party décor ideas could include crepe-paper streamers and bows, as well as heart-shape window clings. The teacher's desk could display an inexpensive bouquet of fragrant red and white carnations in a bright red vase, and you'll be ready to put on a very special Valentine's party for your preschoolers.