Fruit-sicles and Yogurt Pops
It's easy and fun--and economical--for kids to make their own frozen pops.
They can invent their own flavors, from plain frozen orange, apple, or grape juice, to fantastic concoctions of mashed strawberries and bananas mixed with pineapple juice. Freeze yogurt or pudding to make creamy, no-drip pops.
For easy molds, use small paper or plastic cups. Fill each cup almost to the top, stretch a piece of plastic wrap over the top, and then poke a wooden popsicle stick or plastic spoon through it. The plastic wrap will keep the stick in place until the pops are frozen.
Pudding Paintings
Want to wow the kids? Let them fingerpaint with pudding! Make pudding in different colors and flavors: vanilla, chocolate, butterscotch, and pistachio will give them a good variety--and then cover the table with a plastic tablecloth.
Set out bowls of pudding along with some dishes of edible decorations such as pretzel sticks, raisins, chocolate chips, dried apricots, and shredded coconut.
Give each child a large sheet of waxed paper to use as a "canvas" and then just let them go to it. Talk about playing with your food!
Real Meals
Most kids can make their own meals once in awhile.
Younger kids can assemble mini sandwiches using sliced meat and cheese on crackers, or spread peanut butter and jelly onto bread or graham crackers.
Older kids can experiment with making their own sandwich fillings--egg or tuna salad with a few other fun ingredients to add flavor and texture, such as olives, pickles, raisins, nuts and chopped apple or celery.
Salads are easy for kids to make. If they're old enough to safely use the stove, they can whip up simple pasta sauces. And all kids can top their own pizzas.