Make Simple Snack "Punch-Outs"

While preparing your preschooler’s snack doesn't take that long, sometimes that’s just more than you’ve got. Want a couple extra minutes to finish your morning coffee or get that last bite of breakfast in? Here's a delicious activity that lets your preschooler prepare her own fun and healthy snack using cookie cutters. What food isn’t more appealing when it’s shaped like a little bunny? And also, not only will your child get a fun treat she's chosen herself, but she'll get to practice responsibility and fine motor skills at the same time!

What You Need:

• 3 to 5 cookie cutters of various sizes
• Various foods that your child enjoys and can be “punched-out” easily, such as soft wheat tortillas, cheese, apple slices, pear slices, and cucumber slices
• Various spreads and small spatula for spreading (i.e. hummus, fruit flavored cream cheese, peanut butter)
• Small plastic storage container
• Plastic plate

What You Do:

1. Prepare various foods to be “punched-out” (slice apples, cucumbers, etc) and place them on the plastic plate.
2. Offer your little chef the cookie cutters, and instruct her on how to use them.
3. Let her get creative by “punching-out” her snack with the cookie cutters and topping it with a spread of her choice as desired.
4. Have your preschooler place the snack “punch-outs” in the plastic storage container to take to school.
5. Don’t forget that cleaning up is a necessary school skill. Show her how, and then you can both be proud of her for preparing her very own snack from start to finish!