Recipe Friday: Robot Friends For Healthy Birthday Celebrations

April 12, 2013 | Written By: Healthy Schools Campaign

We love these little robot friends as a delightful party snack or giveaway — kids could even make themselves as a fun activity, and items can be swapped out or substituted per preferences, dietary needs, etc.

This week, the USDA ended its comment period over its proposed guidelines on competitive foods in schools (food or beverage items sold in schools outside the National School Lunch Program). We have been working with our friends at PreventObesity.net on a comment drive and are waiting to see what the USDA decides and what the next steps will be in encouraging healthy school food.

In the meantime, one area of non-NSLP school food policy that is widely discussed is food served for classroom celebrations – -birthdays, holidays and so on. Many school districts, including Chicago Public Schools, already have policies about foods brought in for celebrations, primarily due to concerns about nut, dairy and egg allergies.

We would like to see a commitment to nutrition and wellness in the celebration-related food area too, but we understand that parents want to honor their child’s birthday and bring snacks for the class, and the kids love the opportunity to celebrate. On our Pinterest page, we’ve been compiling healthy, fun and delicious recipes for school parties and birthday celebrations to help parents in this area.

We love these little robot friends as a delightful party snack or giveaway — kids could even make themselves as a fun activity, and items can be swapped out or substituted per preferences, dietary needs, etc.

You’ll Need (per robot):

• 1 juice box (avoid juices with lots of high-fructose corn syrup or other sugar, if possible), milk/milk alternative carton or other beverage

• 1 individually-wrapped cup of applesauce or sugar-free Jello

• 2 mini boxes of raisins

• 2 pipe cleaners

• 2 googly eyes

• tape/glue

How to Make It:

1. Attach two raisin boxes to the bottom of your juice box to make the feet.

2. Attach the applesauce to the other side for the head.

3. Affix two pipe cleaners to the back of the juice box; fold to make little arms.

4. Glue two googly eyes.

5. Repeat to build your impressive robot army.

6. Enjoy!