By Beth Peralta
Valentine’s Day almost seems like an extension of the December holiday season…as soon as the bags of red and green candies have left the stores, they are replaced with more red – this time accompanied with pink. When looking for Valentine’s Day snack ideas that are not out of a candy bag, there are some great, healthy options, and the two that are listed below are also appropriate for kids to help out with preparing, too!
Valentine’s Day Fruit Kabobs
Needs: Bamboo skewers (without sharp edges) or regular toothpicks; strawberries, red grapes, and bananas.
Instructions:
Cut strawberries in half, lengthwise, and then cut out a triangle-shaped piece off the top to give it a “heart” shape. Slice bananas into discs and leave grapes whole or cut in half if you’ve got a younger child at risk for choking. Alternate fruits onto a skewer or toothpick and enjoy! Note- You can also use cheese cubes!
Valentine’s Day Parfait
Needs: Low-fat vanilla yogurt (I’m a huge fan of Greek yogurts), strawberries or raspberries, whole-grain cereal, and red or pink sprinkles.
Instructions:
To start, spoon layers of red fruits and vanilla yogurt in a small cup or parfait glass. Top parfait with whole grain cereal and red or pink sprinkles for crunch!
What snacks do you love to prepare this time of year?
Beth Peralta has lived in Champaign-Urbana since 1998, minus a few summers and nine months in grad school. She is a mother to Natalie, wife to Andrew, a registered dietitian nutritionist, and an active community volunteer with the Junior League of Champaign-Urbana. Free time is spent getting back into running after baby, trying new recipes, and checking out things to do in CU with her family.