Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits

Ingredients Tools

Berries Yogurt Cereal Spoon Bowl Cloth Knife Cutting board

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Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits

1 2 3

1. Get ready 2. Prepare fruit 3. Spoon yogurt

4 5 6

4. Add fruit 5. Add cereal 6. Enjoy!

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 Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits

Serves: 5 children as a Time: Get the children excited about preparing food with this simple tasty recipe. Parfaits are popular and
snack or 10 children as a 20 min easy to adapt with foods you have on hand. For example, use bananas instead of berries. Plan to include
sample tasting this recipe in a meal or snack for the day!

Ingredients Instructions
q 600 mL (2½ cups) yogurt 1. Get ready.
q 300 mL (1¼ cup) berries, fresh • Pull up sleeves, tie hair back, and wash hands.
or frozen • Wipe down the table and set out the ingredients and tools. Children can help with these tasks.
q 300 mL (1¼ cup) dry cereal • Show the visual recipe and give a spoon, bowl, and cloth to each child. If they are slicing fruit, give each child their
own cutting board and knife.
Tools
2. Prepare fruit.
q 1 small bowl and 1 small spoon per Have children slice large pieces of fruit, such as whole
child strawberries, into bite-size pieces. This reduces risk of
q 1 cloth or napkin per child choking for children under age four. For infants (6-12
q 3 larger bowls and 3 tablespoons to months), pre-cut the fruit to make it easier for them to
serve ingredients feed themselves.
q If berries need to be sliced, 1 table
knife and cutting board per child 3. Spoon yogurt.
Have children pass the bowl of yogurt and take turns spooning yogurt into their individual bowls. Younger children
Allergy safe may need a gentle reminder not to lick the yogurt spoon in between scoops.
Common allergens include
4. Add fruit.
• Wheat (cereal) Have children either add the sliced fruit from their own cutting board to their individual bowl, or pass the bowl of
• Milk (yogurt) sliced fruit and take turns spooning fruit into their individual bowls.

Tips 5. Add cereal.

Have children pass the bowl of cereal and take turns spooning cereal into their individual bowls.
• Thaw frozen berries in advance.
Place them in the fridge overnight or 6. Enjoy!
cover them with cool water for
Let children decide which foods to add to their bowl and what to taste. Trust children to decide whether and how
5 minutes.
much to eat from their creation. This will help to build their comfort to try these foods. Have extra bowls or napkins on
• Have extra spoons available in case
hand if a child wants to try an individual ingredient or remove it from their mouth.
any fall on the floor or are used for
early taste testing.

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Food Exploration

The three main ingredients in this recipe are berries, yogurt, and cereal. Support children’s learning and curiosity by exploring these foods
before and after this food preparation activity. The examples below highlight the three main ingredients in this recipe, but these ideas work
well for a variety of ingredients.

Berries

How This Activity Supports Young Eaters Sour Bland Sweet

Children sometimes need time to build comfort with new foods.
Each time a child eats a fruit or vegetable, the taste, texture, size, and
colour might be different. Offering lots of opportunities to see, smell,
touch, and taste helps children learn what to expect. Same Same Same

Include Berries in Your Menu

Include the berries from your food activity in your menu in different ways, such
as in smoothies, pancakes, muffins, or jam, or as part of a fruit tray.

Have a Berry Tasting Party

Offer children the opportunity to taste different types of berries. Consider
including children in choosing what types of berries to try. Afterwards, ask
what berries they would like to try next time.

Learn about Berries through Play

Use art and loose materials you have on hand or in your environment to
explore the different shapes, colours, and textures of berries. Consider
including a reference image of different berries for inspiration as needed.
These photos show examples of how to explore berries through finger painting.
Finger Painting

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Food Exploration

Apple sauce
Yogurt (familiar)

+ Diced peaches
(favourite)
= Interest to
explore
Yogurt (new)
No-nut butter
How This Activity Supports Young Eaters (well-liked)

Pairing familiar and well-liked foods with new foods adds

comfort at eating times. Like many foods, yogurt may be a
new food for some children. Serving a new food with familiar Less interest
foods can make eating opportunities feel less overwhelming. + Nothing
else = to explore

Yogurt (new)

Include Yogurt in Your Menu

Include yogurt in your menu in different ways, such as in frozen smoothies, in
lassis, or as a dip for fruit, vegetables, or meat.

Have a “Make Your Own Yogurt Cups” Snack

Offer stir-in options for yogurt, such as fruit purees (applesauce), diced fruit
(canned, fresh, or frozen), or no-nut butter. Consider including children in
choosing add-ins to try. Afterwards, ask what combinations they would like to
try next time.

Learn about Yogurt through Play

Loose materials and re-used items such as yogurt containers can inspire
creative thinking and play. You may find that food containers prompt children to
ask questions about the food or to share their experiences with it. These photos
show examples of how to use yogurt containers for activities such as shadow
tracing and sorting.
Shadow tracing Sorting
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Food Exploration

Cereal
+ + + +
Oat ‘O’ Oat square Dried apple Raisins Sunflower
seeds
How This Activity Supports Young Eaters
Trusting children to choose from the foods offered helps them
to take the lead in eating, to learn about food at their own pace, “You have to eat a bite “Which of these foods would you
of each food” like to include in your snack mix?”
and to build confidence. A child’s new learning about food is a
result of their own success in exploring food. Pressure Invitation

Include Cereal in Your Menu

Include cereals in your menu in different ways, such as in oatmeal muffins or
homemade cereal and granola bars.

Have a “Make Your Own Snack Mix” Party

Offer three or four ingredients, such as different types of dry cereal, raisins, dried
apples, and sunflower seeds. Consider including children in choosing the snack mix
ingredients. Afterwards, ask what combinations or new ingredients they would like to
try next time. Safety tip: Some ingredients may be choking hazards, such as dried fruit
and nuts. Ensure the ingredients are safe for the ages, abilities, and health needs (for
example, allergies) of the children in your care. You know the children best.

Learn about Cereal through Play

Seeing food grow is a great way for children to connect with food, nature, and the
land. You don’t need a large garden to try these ideas. These photos show growing Grow wheat (summer) Grow wheat grass (year-round)
wheat, which can be done indoors or outdoors.

Keep the learning going

View The Curious Cook animated video
series from the Food Systems Pathway
lesson. Learn how strawberries, milk, and
wheat are grown and produced with Sam,
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The Curious Cook. Copyright © 2022 Dairy Farmers of Canada.