snack

Snack (introduction)
Since young children tend to eat smaller meals, they can often benefit from a small snack at midmorning and midafternoon. Although the inclusion of a snack time in your daily schedule is optional, Bright Beginnings provides 144 different snack ideas that can make it an educational and rewarding experience. It is also provides an excellent opportunity to introduce your child to new foods! The Snack appendix is divided into twenty-six sections—A through Z. At least one snack idea is listed under each letter (i.e. chocolate is under "c" and pineapple is under "p"). Although the snacks are numbered, this is for reference only. Snacks can be chosen in any order and then "checked off" when completed. The curriculum activities were designed for the parent to take responsibility as well as do much of the preparation—primarily for safety reasons. However, be sure to encourage your child to participate as much as he or she is capable and comfortable—the opportunities for learning are tremendous! Measuring ingredients teaches important mathematical concept, spreading peanut butter helps develop motor skills, decorating a cookie nurtures creativity, and cleaning up encourages independence and responsibility. Remember, you do not have to make each snack/recipe as written—feel free to be creative and add your own ideas. You can also skip certain snacks or make others more than once. So instead of simply grabbing something from the cupboard when your child says "I’m hungry!", make snack time a special time of fun and learning for both you and your child! HINTS AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS 1. Encourage your child to be involved in all aspects—preparation, creation and cleanup of the snack. Remember, with kids in the kitchen, things are bound to get a little messy! 2. When studying a particular letter of the alphabet, choose a snack from that category. 3. When studying a color, choose a food of that color (e.g., yellow for bananas and green for celery). 4. When studying a shape, choose a food of that shape (e.g., cookie for round and cracker for square). 5. Talk about what you are doing. Ask questions, such as "how does the dough feel?", "how do you think this will look when it comes out of the oven?", and "how does this smell?" 6. Feel free to substitute appropriate ingredients for children with food allergies. 7. Some of the snacks do contain sugar. If you choose to use these recipes, be sure to encourage your child to brush his or her teeth well afterward! 8. Supervise your child at all times! PREPARATION TIME & SUPPLIES Each of the snack ideas in this curriculum are "rated" as to the amount of preparation time and supplies required. Following the name of each snack item is one, two, or three checkmarks. Here is what they mean: ü = simple/few supplies needed üü = minimal preparation/minimal supplies needed üüü = moderate preparation/moderate supplies needed
Snack (lesson)
a is for … 1. apple SUPPLIES: apple ACTIVITY: 1. Cut an apple into slices and serve. 2. apple/caramel slices SUPPLIES: ½ pound caramel candies; 1 tablespoon water; dash of salt; 2–3 crisp apples ACTIVITY: 1. Melt caramels and water in double boiler or microwave; stir in salt. 2. Slice apples. 3. Pour melted caramel over sliced apples; cool before serving. 3. apple/apples and peanut butter SUPPLIES: apple; peanut butter ACTIVITY: 1. Slice apple. 2. Spread peanut butter on the apple slices. 4. applesauce SUPPLIES: store-bought applesauce (or homemade applesauce ingredients): milk ACTIVITY: 1. Serve applesauce with a glass of milk. 5. apricot / apricot crisp SUPPLIES: 4 cups sliced apricots; 1 cup flour; 1 cup sugar; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 egg, beaten; ¼ pound butter or margarine, melted ACTIVITY: 1. Butter an 8" × 8" square baking pan, and lay apricots on the bottom. 2. Mix flour, sugar, and baking powder in a bowl. 3. Add the beaten egg and mix well; drop mixture over fruit in pan. 4. Drizzle melted butter evenly over the top. 5. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes; serve warm. b is for… 6. bologna/bologna wrap SUPPLIES: slice of bologna; cream cheese ACTIVITY: 1. Spread cream cheese on a slice of bologna. 2. Roll up, eat, and enjoy! 7. banana SUPPLIES: banana ACTIVITY: 1. Peel, slice, and serve a banana.