Birthdays are always such a happy occasion for your children. It is a time for fun, games, presents and yummy food to share with your friends. But, how do you celebrate your child’s birthday without giving all the kids the usual rubbish food that is traditionally handed out? And, without being seen as being boring, and having loads of plates left with food that you have to throw out at the end of the day?

I know what some of you might be saying “Oh, get over it! It is a kids’ party. Let them eat junk. It’s only one day.” Well, that one day you can multiply but at least 20 as throughout the school year birthday invitations flow in constantly.  That’s a lot of crap and junk at the end of the day.  The number of children with obesity issues we now have is ever growing. And, we are seeing more and more children in the class with this issue. So, why don’t we cater for those kids – and at the same time-  support and help their parents lets keep it all healthy for all of our children?
When my daughter had her first birthday, naturally, I wanted to have some lovely food and with the children only being one, I wanted it to be healthy too. The food I came up with was not only healthy for children, but was so tasty that the adults ate it too and there was nothing left at the end of the party, even though I catered specially for the adults.

Now, let me share with you THREE healthy recipes that you might consider trying for your next birthday party (or family meal) -
Recipe #1:  Chicken and Vegetable rolls

We all know kids LOVE sausage rolls, but the frozen varieties are full of salt and fat- and it is questionable about the meat inside and the cardboard box it came in would have more nutrients than the sausage roll itself.

So, I found a recipe for chicken rolls that are like sausage rolls that are nutritious and very delicious. Do give it a go…

Ingredients:

500g mince chicken
1 clove garlic crushed
1 med brown onion chopped finely
1 carrot grated
100g green beans chopped finely
125g can creamed corn
1 egg lightly beaten
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
1tbsp tomato sauce
3 sheets puff pastry
1 extra egg beaten lightly

How To Cook/Make:

1) Pre-heat oven to moderately hot.

2) Using hands combine mince, garlic, onion, carrot, beans, corn, eggs, breadcrumbs and sauce in a large bowl.

3) Cut pastry sheets in half lengthways. Place equal amounts of chicken mixture length ways along the centre of each pastry piece; roll each pastry piece to enclose filling. Cut into six pieces.

4) Place seam -side down, brush with extra egg. Bake, uncovered about 30 mins or until browned.

Recipe #2 – Chicken Strips/ Chicken chippies

The other favourite of the party was chicken strips that I made. They were truly easy to make and were a huge hit. You can serve them hot or cold.

Ingredients:

Skinless chicken breasts
Breadcrumbs
Powdered garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
Eggs
Grated Parmesan cheese
Olive oil for shallow frying

How To Cook/Make:

1) Butterfly chicken so that they are thin and tenderise them by bashing them with a rolling pin or a meat tenderiser or back of a frying pan. Do this to all the chicken is thin and flat like schnitzel.
2) Beat eggs in a small bowl, in a separate bowl combine breadcrumbs, garlic powder, parmesan, salt and pepper.
3) Dip chicken into egg, then into breadcrumb mixture, back into the egg and back into the breadcrumb mixture ( twice coat the chicken this keeps the chicken from drying out and keeps it tender) repeat till all the chicken is coated with the breadcrumb/parmesan mixture.

4) Heat oil in a frying pan and fry chicken till golden brown.

5) Cut into strips like chicken chippies.

I made some more hot food for the kids like mini pizzas that I made rather than bought, so I could control what goes on them. I also made pumpkin and zucchini mini muffins.

Being summer, I also supplied cold/ frozen foods for the kids. I made my own iceblocks (which were made in advance from fresh squeezed fruit juice, I froze grape, watermelon, oranges and tubs of yoghurt. These were fantastic, and the kids loved them in the hot weather.

Recipe #3 – Chocolate Brownies
There were no lollies even in sight. For dessert I made chocolate brownies that most of the sweetness comes from dates not sugar or chocolate. This can be an everyday snack, if need be, as it is not unhealthy one little bit.

Ingredients:

90g flour sifted
60g cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
90g brown sugar
140g butter
140g pitted dates chopped
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

How To Cook/Make:

1) Pre-heat oven 160 Celsius, grease a 20cm square tin and line with baking paper.

2) Melt butter in a saucepan, add dates and take off the heat, stand for 10 mins

3) Sift cocoa, flour and baking powder into a large bowl, add sugar and combine.

4) In another large bowl, whisk eggs and vanilla together, then stir in the dates and butter. Add to the dry ingredients and stir into just combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 20 mins or until set.

I also made chocolate crackles but I made them in a very unconventional way by mixing coco pops (which now has wholegrain),  melted chocolate ( 70% cocoa), and mini M&M’s. Put them in the fridge and there you have the (must have at all parties) chocolate crackles but not the kind with the nasty trans fat of copha and butter etc. Yes, there is chocolate in it but it is not that bad for the kids if taken in moderation (and teeth get brushed!).

The birthday cake was banana cake (or you could make it carrot cake) – and this is just as tasty as butter cake or chocolate cake.

You see, kids birthday parties don’t have to be full of junk and sugar. It can be healthy and fun at the same time. Substitute junk for healthy alternatives and the kids won’t even notice and you can assure the other parents that they will be eating something nutritious so they don’t have to worry about lunch later or dinner.

What do you serve at your children’s parties? Do you try to make it more healthy or do you give them conventional  party food? Come and share some of your yummy recipes.