One thing that I have been looking forward to about having kids is making the most fun out of holidays. That includes decorations, celebrations and of course the food! Our daughter has really been having so much fun tasting all of the foods and really enjoys all of them…except for pureed broccoli. That one is still a no go. But everything else is great and we are going to get in the Valentine’s Day spirit this week with some meals for the kids!
Themed meals can make any day more special and we are looking forward to getting started on regularly adding them now that Gracen is eating solids and enjoying them so much. (Let’s hope that it continues as she gets older!) While she is still a little young for holding memories, I hope that these meals will be ones that she looks forward to and finds joy in them as she grows. Valentine’s Day is the first of many holidays that we can enjoy building traditions and events around and we can’t wait to share the love!
When it comes to meals that kids will enjoy, it is important to keep things simple, fun and with foods that they will enjoy. If your child will not eat pasta, do not make spaghetti. It may seem silly to even say that, but a holiday, or any themed, meal shouldn’t be spoiled trying to talk your child into eating it. Enjoy the meal with them by serving them food you know they will like in a fun and festive way!
Today we are going to take a look at a few ideas that will be great for the children in your life and we can’t wait to hear what you think! Let’s start with pizza, but with a twist. Growing up, my mom made us pizza quicks all the time. They were one of my favorite meals and so easy to make! To make them appeal to a Valentine’s Day theme, cut the English muffins into hearts and decorate your pizza muffins in the theme of love and fun. The pizza quick is no longer a thing, but these pizza muffins can still be made! To make these fun Muffin Pizzas, start with your heart-shaped muffins on a baking sheet. Add your sauce of choice and decorate with pizza topping in a festive decoration! We chose tomato sauce for the red color, but white sauce will work too. Pepperoni, turkey and ham are all great toppings with the reds and pinks too! Do your kids eat veggies regularly? Tomatoes, red bell peppers, roasted red peppers and mushrooms all lend great color to your pizzas, just make sure to layer on the mozzarella cheese over the sauce to make the toppings really pop! Once your muffins are made, pop them into an oven that is preheated to 375 for about 10 minutes. Once the cheese is melted and the muffins are a little crisp, they are done and ready to enjoy!
Thinking about breakfast options? The options are nearly endless if you have a heart shaped cookie cutter! Pour some pancake batter into the cookie cutter on the stuff for heart shaped pancakes. Serve with strawberries or raspberries for some red fruit to up the spirit of the day. We went with cereal for our baby. Iron fortified cereal is a quick and easy breakfast for the babies out there and when you add pureed fruit, milk and a nut butter it is creamy and the perfect color for Valentine’s Day! We added pureed cranberries we made at home, but strawberries and raspberries will work too! If your child is a little older then substitute oatmeal for the cereal or the same effect!
Not into heart shaped, or red/pink foods? Choose some festive plates and decorations to claim the mood! A few red balloons go a long way. Even easier than balloons are red paper plates and napkins. Decorate the table with a new tablecloth or runner and some red flowers. Bring in some fun and basic decorations to create some flair and a festive environment. It really is the little things that make the biggest impact.
Creating these themed meals can be a great way for your kids to try foods in a new way, which will hopefully open them up to trying new foods with more regularity. It is also a great bonding time with your family. Enjoy the festive nature of these meals and really create fun environments for meals with the family.
Personally, I think this is a great way to share loving actions with your kids. While they may be a little young to understand it, they are seeing you create these events for them. I look back fondly on memories of my Mom at my school creating fun parties and events. She created a girl scout camp for myself, all of my friends and many others. To this day she creates fun games and events for her family and friends. Her actions tell us all how much she cares about us and we love her so much for the mood she sets for us all at every occasion. Thank you Mom for creating so many lasting memories for me. I have big shoes to fill as a mom.
We can’t wait to see your posts and meals that you make for your families! Make sure to tag us in your posts. As always, thank you for reading and joining us on this journey. Simply,
Beth