Food and Beverages - Cultural Considerations

Classroom Party Ideas

Party and holiday celebrations at school are a unique way to make healthy eating fun and exciting for children.

Take advantage of classroom celebrations to practise the good eating habits you've been teaching your students by serving tasty and nutritious foods. Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher's Resource for Grades 1 - 8 contains some multicultural activities.

Party Ideas:

• Incorporate Health
• Holidays
• Multicultural

Incorporate Health

Use Canada's Food Guide to help plan classroom celebrations. If parents are providing foods for special school occasions or parties, suggest that they send healthy choices such as:

A fresh fruit assortment Fruit and cheese kabobs Fruit salad Vegetables with dip Turkey wraps

Fruit smoothies Celery and carrots with hummus Whole grain crackers and cheese Oatmeal and raisin cookies Bean burrito with salsa

Holiday Parties

• Compile ideas into a recipe book and sell to raise funds
• Arrange to have students assist with preparations of some foods, along with parent volunteers

Holiday	Food Ideas
Thanksgiving	Applesauce Apple muffins
Halloween	Ghostly cider Pumpkin muffins
Christmas	Gingerbread Granola cookies Fresh cut vegetables and dip
Valentine's Day	Apples Have a Healthy Heart Party: use the Workout With Ticker video/dvd to lead students in some invigorating exercises
Easter	Carrot muffins Have an Easter Bunny Party ~ serve bunny foods such as carrots, cucumber, celery and pepper strips

Multicultural Parties

Children are always interested in the festivals of other children around the world. Ask students to discuss festivals relevant to their cultural background or present some to the class:

• Diwali

  Diwali is celebrated throughout India for a period of five days either in October or November. People light up their homes with clay oil lamps and prepare special foods.

  Did you know that Indian cuisine has become increasingly popular? Indian grocery stores are common in Brampton and Mississauga and stock the herbs and spices needed for authentic Indian cooking.

• Hanukkah

  Hanukkah is a holiday that honours the struggle of ancient Jews to restore the Temple of Jerusalem. Jews today celebrate the Eight Days of Hanukkah and call it the "Festival of Lights." They light a special candleholder called a menorah. Hanukkah is usually celebrated in December.

  Potato latkes are a traditional Hanukkah dish. Potatoes are grated with onion and mixed with flour and eggs. The mixture is moulded into small cakes and fried in olive oil.

  Did you know that 'Shalom' is how you greet someone in Israel? It's also how you say good-bye. 'Shalom' is the Hebrew word for peace.

• Chinese New Year

  This festival takes place over 15 days between the end of January and the middle of February. Its main message is "peace and happiness for family members and friends." Chinese New Year is also called "Spring Festival".

  Did you know that dairy products such as milk, butter and cheese are not part of the everyday Chinese diet? Instead, soybean products provide protein and calcium.

Adapted from materials produced by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit, Brant County Health Unit and Peel Public Health.