Healthy Valentine party food tips for kids- Heart Healthy appetizers and snacks for kids

Valentine's Day is another holiday celebration that many classrooms, parents and after-school programs will plan to celebrate with kids.  It is also a great theme to tie in to promoting a healthy heart to kids and families.

Too often holiday celebrations are centered around high fat appetizers and snacks. We often don’t have time for trying to find alternatives,  so we grab the nearest party tray from the grocery store or make a platter of fatty treats.

...but with a few simple tips, you can create healthier appetizers that kids will really enjoy.

Here is a list of some healthy snacks and appetizers tips and easy party food ideas that are sure to be party favorites

• It sounds simple, but include at least one healthy food item in your appetizer like fruit, vegetables or 100% whole grains.
• Strawberries are very healthy and already perfectly shaped!
• Have the kids help find red fruits and vegetables that you can shape into a heart!
• Make healthy sandwiches with lean turkey and low fat cheese and use cookie cutters to make a heart shape.
• Recipes that call for deep frying, try baking it instead. You will lower the amount of fat and still have all the flavor.
• Try adding 1/3 less sugar than your cookie recipe calls for.  Most kids won't notice the difference!
• Use 100% whole grains when preparing heart shaped sandwiches.
• 100% whole wheat crackers and put peanut on it (shape the peanut butter like a heart! and then add a little fresh fruit on top!  Or serve crackers and cut low fat cheese into mini hearts to give an added boost of calcium!
• Make a healthy snack of dried fruit and seeds and nuts and place it in a little pink or red cupcake holder.
• You can cut up watermelon or other red fruits and place them in the shape of a big heart.

Valentines Day Healthy Heart Activity, Cards and Worksheets Healthy heart Food Pyramid color and learn page, word puzzles, eating healthy and being active worksheets.

Kids Valentine's Day Healthy Message Cards Page Print our FREE full color mini- cards for kids to give out as Valentines- more than 4 versions to choose from. Mini-cards are 4 per page and have fun messages and healthy heart graphics. Full size cards are also available for kids to give to teachers or parents.

Chef Solus' Top 10 Healthy Heart Tips for Kids A fun color and learn page, kids read and color as they learn about healthy habits for an early start to a healthy heart.

Share your favorite healthy Valentine party food or snacks ideas for kids by leaving a comment below!