Nutritious, delicious food choices for students

Every part of the day presents opportunities for learning and mealtimes can be especially full of teachable moments. Whether at the Academy or at home, your children can learn while enjoying healthy and nutritious foods.

From time to time, we’ll feature easy, nutritious and delicious recipes from our Academies that you and your children can make at home. This one, for Strawberry and Pineapple Yogurt Parfaits, comes from Kiddie Academy of Robbinsville, New Jersey.

Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients
-Fresh strawberries
-Fresh pineapple
-Vanilla yogurt
-Granola
-Clear cups

Directions
-Wash hands thoroughly.
-Wash all fresh fruit.
-Using a plastic knife, help the children cut the strawberries and pineapple into bite-sized pieces.
-Put each fruit and vanilla yogurt into separate serving bowls.
-Add 1/3 cup of fresh fruit to the bottom of each cup.
-Next, add a layer of vanilla yogurt on top of fruit.
-Continue by adding another layer of fruit, then another layer of yogurt.
-Sprinkle granola on top.
-Serve immediately for a delicious and healthy meal!

Our partners at PBS KIDS and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) have some tips on how you can turn making food with your child into a fun learning experience. There are lots of ways to build in word play, counting and following directions, as well as reading for older children. Here are 10 tips from PBS KIDS and NAEYC for cooking with your kids:

1. Keep it simple.
2. Let your child lead.
3. Start with basics.
4. Build up.
5. Expand skills as child’s development permits.
6. Keep flavors plain.
7. Prep and plan when possible.
8. Introduce literacy!
9. Invite your child to help clean up.
10. Eat your results and enjoy.

You can read the complete article here.

Schedule a time to visit your local Academy to find out more about the healthy recipes and everything else Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care has to offer your family.