Things to make and do over Easter & the Holidays
Healthy kitchen Easter wouldn’t be the same without chocolate but for some families, it’s hard to control the amount of sugar and trans fats their children consume, especially when Easter eggs are given as gifts by all members of the family and friends. Nannies of St. James are advocates of a healthy, balanced diet and this also applies to meals enjoyed over the Easter half term, too. Creating nutritious food is part of a nannies’ job role but over any festive period a sense of fun and humour should be adopted in the kitchen. We have put together some inspirational Easter meals which can be part of your charges’ daily activity over the school holiday to add some wholesome nutrition to the week-long chocolate-fest. Breakfast - The most important meal of the day should be filled with antioxidants and hunger-curbing carbohydrates.
- Egg shaped frozen yoghurt and granola pops
- Rabbit shaped buckwheat pancakes
- Boiled eggs and ham cut into bunny ears Lunch - This meal marks the middle of the day and needs to be prepared quickly for children on the go.
- Cheese and grated carrot wraps with bunny ears
- Toasted muffin pizza with a chick beak made from triangle of carrot
- Baby chick shape pineapple fruit salad Supper - After unwinding from a fun-filled day, supper is a time to fill up on vegetables and protein.
- Honey glazed carrots with orange
- Duck cookie cutter shape potato fondant
- Egg shaped ragu risotto balls
Easter craft corner Making Easter crafts is a tradition in many households. Spring-themed crafts like lambs and chicks are always a favourite with little ones while designing and making an Easter bonnet can be enjoyed by children of all ages. One of our favourite things to make with children is dyed Easter eggs. A fiddly and delicate activity but worth the time and effort as the end result is rather striking. Below is our guide to making dyed eggs.
-
Blow out your eggs. This part is for grown-ups only. Take the tip of a sharp knife to pierce both ends of the egg. Turn the knife in one of the holes to make the circumference wider. Poke a skewer through the larger hole to pierce and stir the yolk. Hold the egg, larger hole down over a bowl and blow the contents out with a drinking straw. Blow gently to ensure the egg doesn’t crack.
-
Ensure your work surfaces are protected with newspaper. Mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar and 20 drops of food colouring (or more for a more vibrant result) in 250ml of hot water in a heatproof bowl, deep enough to submerge the egg completely. Dip your eggs for a few minutes, the longer they spend in the dye solution the brighter the colour.
-
Let the eggs dry for a few hours. You can create a drying rack made from foam and seamstress pins to rest the eggs on.
- Place in a decorative egg box to make the perfect Easter gift. Colour your egg box with coloured tissue and PVA glue, or let your little Easter bunnies get creative with their felt tip pens.
Do you have any fun Easter crafts planned for the half term? Or perhaps you’ve been whipping up some festive treats in the kitchen? We’d love to hear about it, send us a message or comment on our Facebook page.
From the Nannies of St. James, we wish you all a lovely Easter.