Fun Yogurt Yum!

Good morning Readers! Today's awesome recipe for our tiny diners is the yogurt parfait. Sounds simple and somewhat boring right? WRONG! These are a great way for our Littles to get in a serving of fruit and dairy while having a ton of fun! The key is to let them participate in building an awesome parfait with tons of different fruits, nuts (if they're old enough--here's the link to Babycenter  that shows what foods may be inappropriate for children birth through age 3) and other exciting and healthy snacks. Put them in a fun and crazy glass, bowl or cup to up the appeal.

Below are a few suggestions which I use when letting Ava build her parfaits but any fruits/yogurts your Littles like will work!

Ava's Fruity Decadence

-1 container vanilla Greek yogurt (feel free to choose any flavor your Little likes)
-3 washed and sliced strawberries
-1/4 cup crushed pineapple
-1/4 cup mandarin oranges
-2 crushed graham crackers (you can use any flavor granola for older kids, but for Littles who don't have all their teeth yet, graham crackers make a great option)
- 2 tbsp. wild honey (optional and only for kids over 2)

Put some yogurt on the bottom of the glass and then layer all ingredients until glass is full. Chill for 10-15 minutes and ENJOY! :)

Other great parfait ingredients can include, but aren't limited to:
-Pecans
-Blueberries
-Raspberries
-Blackberries
-Raisins
-Fruit Cocktail mix (Del Monte has a great mix--just be sure to drain it first!)
-Pears
-Apples
-Grapes
-Mango
-Papaya
-Honey flavored yogurt
-A favorite whole-grain cereal

Or try a "hot parfait" by using warm oatmeal, yogurt and favorite fruits. Have fun, experiment and enjoy!

Cheers!