April Fools!

 

OK, confession time. April Fool's Day is one of my favorite days of the year. Growing up, I spent hours contemplating the best pranks to play on my mom and dad. My favorite was always the "cup of water over the door" prank - which fell perfectly on my parents heads when they opened the door (thanks to the thread attached to the doorknob). That stunt was quickly followed by wax-coated soap (can't get a lather!) and serving hot prune juice instead of coffee. Don't even get me started with the plastic wrap over the toilet... Good times. 

Today's date got me thinking - how can I blog about "food" and make the connection to April 1st? It might be a stretch, but I thought it would be fun to explore ways to "play" with food today. Especially if it might encourage kids and finicky family members to eat nutritious and delicious foods. The presentation can make all the difference. Here are some fun ideas and happy pranking! 

Skewer it

Create cold kebabs with fruits and vegetables by alternating pieces of colorful produce on metal or wooden skewers. Great combinations include strawberries and bananas, mozzarella cheese and cherry tomatoes, lean ham and chunks of parmesan cheese, pineapple and watermelon, bell peppers and smoked Gouda.  

Wrap it

Stuff tortillas and soft flatbreads with sweet and savory fillings to create hand-held meals.

Face it

Create faces on top of cooked foods by using small pieces of fruits and vegetables and you can liven up plain chicken breasts, fish fillets, turkey burgers, pancakes and waffles, plain whole wheat bread, toast and crackers.

Cut it

Use star and flower-shaped cookie cutters to cut fruits, vegetables, cheese, deli meats and baked goods.

Nestle it

Insert small action figures and dolls into dips and spreads.

Keep an eye on it

Put "eyes" on ANYTHING. Use chocolate chips, black or green olives, pimentos, mushrooms or small pieces of any fruit or vegetable. Use sweet or savory cream cheese to make the eyes stick. 

Layer it

Alternate layers of yogurt and fresh fruit in tall glasses to create parfaits. Top with whole grain cereal or granola.

Hold it

From pasta to prepared chicken, beef, pork, fish and vegetables, find ways to prepare and cut food so it can be eaten with the hands.  Serve familiar dips on the side to encourage sampling new items.