Are you stuck in a breakfast rut with your kids? Change up your morning routine with a yogurt parfait! This is a real treat for children because it gives them some control around mealtime, and control lays the groundwork for adventurous eating! Here are some tips to make a kid-friendly yogurt parfait bar.
Set Up: Set your kids up for success by using the ezpz Play Mat, which consists of flower compartments (for the ingredients) and a mat (to hold their cup, utensils and the mess!). To help your child make their parfait independently be sure to choose an open cup and utensils appropriate for their age and stage. For example, the Mini Cup + Mini Utensils are geared for young toddlers and the Happy Cup + Happy Utensils for older toddlers / preschoolers.
- Expert Tip: Put the food you most want your child to eat in the largest section of the Play Mat so it has more visual presence. If you want your child to eat more protein, fill the larger section with some thinned out peanut butter or yogurt. Remember… allowing your little one to select the foods and make their own parfait encourages them to eat it!
Building a Parfait: Start with yogurt as your base layer. Next, add a layer of fruit. Then, add a crunchy layer, which provides texture and complexity to the parfait. Then, add more puree, which can be more yogurt or another delicious puree. The last layer should be a fun topping you know your child will enjoy! Below are more details on each layer of a parfait.
Layer 1 (Puree Texture): The bottom layer is the first thing you will put into the cup. If you are using yogurt, I recommend using plain (no added sugar), whole milk yogurt. The fresh fruit and granola will naturally sweeten the parfait.
- Expert Tip: Placing yogurt at the bottom of the parfait will help prevent food from getting stuck and make cleanup ezpz for you!
Layer 2 (Chopped Texture): The fruit layer can consist of your child’s favorite berry such as blueberries, strawberries, blackberries or raspberries. You can also cut up pieces of banana, pineapple, mango, cantaloupe or honeydew. I’ve used fresh fruit, canned fruit and even frozen fruit (once it thaws a bit) to make a yummy parfait.
- Expert Tip: The ezpz Play Mat keeps all the different foods and textures separated so your child can assemble with their hands or a utensil.
Layer 3 (Puree Texture): This layer can consist of more yogurt, but you can also add a different puree. Some of my favorites are a spoonful of thinned out peanut butter (or other nut butter), applesauce, jelly, cranberry sauce or pumpkin puree.
- Expert Tip: Got a few food pouches lying around? You can squirt some yumminess from a food pouch for this layer too.
Layer 4 (Crunchy Texture): Want your kids to love eating healthy parfaits? Having a crunchy layer is key to getting their buy in! Granola and other cereals add a nice crunch. You can also try nuts, such as almond slivers, crushed walnuts or diced pecans. Seeds are also be an option with chia seeds, sunflower seeds or hemp seeds which present a smaller sized crunch.
Layer 5 (Puree Texture): You can add more yogurt or an optional puree. This puree layer is critical because you want the next layer (the toppings) to stick to this layer.
Layer 6 (Whipped or Sprinkle Texture): Toppings can make all the difference when you are trying to get a picky eater to try a parfait. You can add a dollop of whipped cream, a few cupcake sprinkles, or a mint leaf to make it look fancy. Shredded unsweetened coconut, a drizzle of honey or a sprinkle or cocoa powder are also huge hits.
Kids in the Kitchen: A yogurt parfait bar is the perfect way to get your kids involved in meal prep. And children of all ages can help!
- Young toddlers can select the foods
- Older toddlers can cut bananas and other soft fruit with a kid-safe training knife
- Preschoolers can gather the ingredients, set the table and help with cleanup
Parfaits are perfect for starting the day off right with a healthy breakfast, and they are great for lunch or snack time too! What types of toppings does your family enjoy on their parfaits? Share your parfait ideas with the hashtag #ezpzfun.
