Preparing Healthy Snacks with Your Grandchildren
Cooking with grandchildren is one of the most enjoyable and heartwarming ways to spend time together. Not only do you get to pass on family recipes or teach them basic kitchen skills, but it’s also an opportunity to introduce healthy eating in a fun way. At senior assisted living Lakewood, we love seeing residents bond with their grandkids through these kitchen activities.
One of the easiest and most fun snacks to prepare is fruit kabobs. You just need some colorful fruits like strawberries, grapes, and bananas. Have your grandchildren help by threading the fruit onto skewers. It’s a simple, hands-on activity that they love, and you get to sneak in some important nutrients.
Trail Mix is another easy, no-cook option that’s fun to customize. Set out bowls of nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and maybe a little dark chocolate, and let the kids create their own mixes. One resident at senior apartments Lakewood mentioned that she loves doing this with her grandkids because they enjoy the freedom of picking their favorite ingredients. Plus, it’s a great way to teach them about healthy snacks.
Another hit is veggie sticks with homemade hummus. It’s not only healthy but fun for kids to dip their colorful carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers into something they made themselves.
Residents at memory care Lakewood love introducing their grandkids to simple cooking skills, and making hummus from scratch is an easy, nutritious activity.
Yogurt Parfaits: These are fun to make, especially when you let your grandkids layer their own parfaits. Provide yogurt, granola, and various fruit toppings like berries and bananas. The kids will love building their own snack, and you’ll love that they’re enjoying something healthy.
Peanut Butter and Banana Bites: These are perfect for a quick and easy snack. Slice up a banana, spread some peanut butter between two slices, and you’ve got a fun, bite-sized treat. You can even roll them in crushed nuts or oats for added crunch. One resident told us her grandkids can’t get enough of these during their visits!
Ants on a Log: A classic that never gets old—simply spread peanut butter or cream cheese on celery sticks and top with raisins or dried cranberries. Kids love the playful name, and it’s a fun way to get them to eat more veggies.
Cooking together is not just about the food, it’s about the memories you create. These activities are all about spending time together and creating memories that will last long after the snacks are gone. They are the threads that bind generations together, making the bond between grandparents and grandchildren stronger.
