Make Celebrations Fun, Healthy And Active

Submitted by

Jane Eisenhauer

SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator

Wild West Extension District

 

Make Celebrations Fun, Healthy

And Active

 

Spring is in the air!! We are all excited for Spring, the time of year when we are busy planting our garden, planting flowers and making our lawns look fabulous. Spring is also the time where we find ourselves preparing for many celebrations, such as Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, graduation, weddings, and Father’s Day.

Eating healthy and being physically active can be a fun part of our celebrations. Great gatherings are easy to have when tasty, healthy foods from all the food groups are offered in a fun, active environment.

When planning an event make healthy habits part of your celebration. Food and beverages are usually huge part of an event, but they do not have to be the center of the occasion. Focusing on activities to get people moving and enjoy being together are also a big part of the celebration.

The following tips will make it easier when planning your next celebration.

Make foods look festive — Add a few eye-catching fruits to a favorite dish or try a new recipe. Serve a spicy bean dip with your veggie tray, make fruit kabobs with yogurt dip, use a variety of cheese for your cheese platter and serve with whole grain crackers.

Have several tables for food – Arrange food on several different tables around the room. This helps, not only to get people moving, but also interacting with other guests.

Offer fun thirst quenchers – Make ice cubes from 100% fruit juice or add slices of fruit to make water more exciting. Create a “float” by adding a scoop of low-fat sorbet to seltzer water.

Savor the flavor – Take time to pay attention to the taste of food. Make small changes in your old recipes or try dishes from another culture to liven things up.

Try out some healthier recipes – Find ways to cut back on added sugars, salt and saturated fat as you prepare your favorite recipes.

Shop smart to eat smart – Save money by offering foods that fit your budget. Buy in-season produce when it costs less and tastes better. Plan in advance and buy foods on sale

Make moving part of every event – Being physically active makes everyone feel good. Dancing, moving, playing active games, wiggling and giggling add fun to any gathering.