#super snack

Game Day is finally here, it’s two days away. If you’re looking for a delicious dip , this is it. This recipe belongs to my daughter Jenn, she always makes it and it is always delicious. It goes perfectly with any kind of chip , or you can toast pita bread and cut into triangles. I know it’s fattening, but what the hell ? Superbowl comes but once a year right? This is a Super Snack, and if you…

Spinach and Artichoke Dip – Game Day Dip

Game Day is finally here, it’s one day away. If you’re looking for a delicious dip , this is it. This recipe belongs to my daughter Jenn, she always makes it and it is always delicious. It goes perfectly with any kind of chip , or you can toast pita bread and cut into triangles. I know it’s fattening, but what the hell ? Superbowl comes but once a year right? This is a Super Snack, and if you…

New Post has been published on http://skinnykc.com/the-super-snack/

The super snack

ingredients:

sliced bananas

raw cacao

dried coconuts

This weekend, we went to the farmer's market in Oakland, CA, where grapes and strawberries were on their last voyage to the fresh table. We gobbled them up! So, we were going to dedicate Super Snack Wednesday to GRAPES.  They're crunchy and delicious. They require no preparation other than washing and chewing.

Instead, we want to take it up a notch. This Wednesday we want to call the whole family into the kitchen... as Super Snack introduces:

FREESTYLIN' FRUIT SALAD. [Say What?!]

Freestylin' Fruit Salad is a family game that teaches number sense. Here's what you need:

1-2 dice

an array of fruits, each in their own bowl or container. Fruit suggestions: grapes, strawberries, blueberries, apples (cut up into bite size), bananas (sliced- only a few for this one, as they can get funky over time), and whatever other fruits you have ready to go for the yum.

any wild ingredients you want to add (almonds, walnuts, etc.)

option to serve yogurt at the finish

a large bowl for the final Freestylin' Fruit Salad

2+ players - best when the whole family is in on it!

Here's the deal. The "Freestylin' Fruit Salad" is wacky and wild. We don't know the recipe, as the game will create it! Here's how the turn goes for each player:

Kick it off with the song "Go" from our new album. You can start the chant as a family, "G-O, G-O, GO!" to kick off each turn.

Now pick the fruit you are going to add. [strawberries, bananas, grapes, doesn't matter which].

Roll the die (start with just one).

Parents ask the child, how many spots do you see on the dice? Count them together. 

Go to the fruit bowl, and count out the same number of items of that fruit you will add to the large Freestylin' Fruit Salad bowl. e.g. your child rolls a two, and counts out two grapes to add to the salad.

Pass the dice to the next person in the family.

Game continues until all ingredients are in! You can serve over yogurt in bowls as a family and celebrate the game.

Bonus round for 1st graders and up: Add a second die, and ask the older kids to add the amounts on each die together for their contributions to the salad..

Why is this important?  Children entering kindergarten are expected to have developed number sense. Learning how to count is one step in this process. Learning and understanding what numbers mean is the next step. Going through the process of counting the spots on a die and the number of fruits to add correlates number to the meaning of a number - while creating a bonding experience as a family. This activity brings learning into the kitchen for a shared experience - if you work late, try it as a dessert when everyone is finally home! Older kids can get into it too - having dice always makes it a game. At Alphabet Rockers, we feature counting in a few songs - Countdown Boogie Down, The Money Song, and the Seven Days of the Week. Add these songs as a backdrop to your family night of making Freestylin' Fruit Salad! You'll have great beats and positive lyrics for kids playing while you cook, learn, laugh and throw the dice.  You can download them on iTunes here.