It was a very merry Blue Plate Special at Lincoln Elementary School Wednesday evening.
The monthly SAFE BASE dinners highlight seasonal foods made by program participants. In this case, the holiday theme ruled, with finger foods dominating.
Peanut butter balls, fresh veggie trays, cheese spread and roll-up sandwich bites all had been prepared by kids before their families joined them. SAFE BASE’s goal has long been improved parental involvement, as well as nutritional awareness, and the festive celebration rang true. Parents joined their kids in making hot cocoa mix, fruit cereal ornaments, pipe cleaner Christmas trees and Armpit Fudge.
The latter is so named because ingredients are mixed in a zip-top bag aided by body warmth and motion, said USD 257 nutritionist Wanda Kneen.
Kids measured, poured and mixed — careful to ease air out of bags filled with powdered sugar, cocoa powder, cream cheese and butter, lest one experience a dust-bowl cloud from a popped bag.
Kneen was pleased with students’ enthusiasm.
“They’ve been trying new foods because they had a hand in making them,” she said, noting students taste egg nog, cranberry punch and a variety of vegetables they otherwise might have passed.
The next Blue Plate Special will be Feb. 2. A ground hog theme will prevail.
Merry mealtime at SAFE BASE
