Football Cheese Ball

What You Need:

• 3 packages cream cheese (8 ounces each)
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 pretzel sticks
• Cooking spray
• Mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon
• Serving platter
• Paper towels

What You Do:

1. Have your child place the cream cheese, garlic, nuts, cheese, onion powder and salt in the mixing bowl.
2. Help your child mix the ingredients with the wooden spoon. Encourage them to be patient. The cream cheese, in particular, might take a while to soften.
3. Once everything is thoroughly mixed, let your child dump the cheese mixture on the serving platter.
4. Have your child hold out their hands, palm-side up, over the sink.
5. Spray their hands with a mist of cooking spray.
6. Let your child use their hands to mold the cheese mixture into a football shape. Help them with the edges if they're having a bit of trouble.
7. Show your child how to place the pretzel sticks on top of the cheese ball so that they resemble football laces. You may need to take out an actual football (or a picture of one) to remind them just how the laces look.
8. There will probably be some excess cheese and pretzels on the serving platter. Have your child use paper towels to gently wipe the platter clean around the cheese football.
9. Set your athletic snack aside until kickoff!