I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by everything. There is so much I want to do with my kids, but simply not enough time. If I gave up on sleeping this month, I might be able to check everything off of my to-do list, but that's not happening!
Every year, during the weeks leading up to Easter, I pull out some plastic Easter eggs and fill them with food for my kids. Lily is at the age where she requests an "Easter Egg Lunch" instead of a traditional lunch, and Lexie looks forward to finding a half-dozen eggs in her lunch bag every day! (Sadly, Dylan is now too old for this tradition.) An added bonus is that Liam gets in some Occupational Therapy by working on his pincer grasp to get the food out of the eggs!
All you need is a clean, empty egg carton and a dozen plastic eggs!
One of the best things about these Easter Egg Mini-Meals is that you can fill them with ANYTHING. Fill them with healthy food, fill them with treats, fill them with snacks, make it a meal, or give them a little bit of everything. The possibilities are endless!
Even better, they seem to eat the food that they would typically avoid if that food is put in a fun Easter Egg!
I've stuffed the eggs with a little bit of everything. Anything that is a finger food can work for this! Here are a few ideas:
- any kind of cut fruit
- small pieces of a waffle, french toast sticks, and mini pancakes
- raw vegetables and steamed vegetables
- small cooked pasta shapes
- dried fruit or raisins (older kids only)
- nuts (older kids only)
- popcorn (older kids only)
- shredded cheese
- beans
- cereal
- granola
- small pieces of turkey dog, fish sticks, or chicken nuggets
- mini pepperoni
- oyster crackers
- M&M's or Skittles
On this day, I gave them snacks. I chose organic puffs, s'mores goldfish, cuties, bananas, fruit snacks, marshmallows, sliced cheese stick, shredded mozzarella, pretzel golfish, chocolate chips, cheerios, and animal crackers.
And when they're done? They can play with their food! Take the eggs out, open and close them, and put them back in...it's a meal and an activity all in one!
Easter Egg Mini-Meals are not just for toddlers and preschoolers! You can put them in your school-aged child's lunch box. Lexie loves the surprise of opening the eggs and finding out what's in them! (Once upon a time, Dylan loved it, too. *sigh*)
You can simply fill a few eggs and toss them into the lunch box...
...OR you can cut an egg carton in half or in thirds, and use it as a base for the eggs!
The one above is what I placed in Lexie's lunch box tonight. She's getting blueberries, mini pepperoni, shredded cheddar cheese, lima beans, marshmallows, and pretzel goldfish. I try to choose different foods each day to keep it exciting!
Easter Egg Mini-Meals are a fun, seasonal twist on muffin tin meals. Childhood is fleeting, and NOW is the time to make mealtime fun and exciting!
How do you make mealtime fun for your child?
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
Muffin Tin Meals
Easy On-the-Go Snack Necklaces
LET'S CONNECT!
TWITTER // FACEBOOK // INSTAGRAM // BLOGLOVIN // GOOGLE+ // PINTEREST
*Linking up with Grammie Time for Party at My Place.
