~ From kids’ parties and playgroups to office brunch meetings and bridal showers … this is the fun, delicious, HEALTHY snack everyone will love! Your breakfast yogurt parfaits are getting a little crazy today … and heading out to parrrr-tay! ~
This Recipe Is: • Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Vegetarian •
Today, we’re getting all dressed up and going to a party! Yay!
Well … ok, honestly … it’s the middle of summer here in Ohio, so we’re actually both gonna be pulling on shorts and flip-flops (our warm-weather, minivan-chauffeur outfits).
But, let’s just pretend for a moment. Go with us on this, ok?
We’re taking our beloved fruit and granola yogurt parfaits and kickin’ them into full party mode!
Don’t get me wrong. Gretchen and I both loooove yogurt parfaits for breakfast. Kinda near and dear to our hearts, actually.
You might remember that Disney is Gretchen’s favorite place on Earth (ever). The resort where she and her family stay has a Disney-style (as in, over-the-top awesome in every way) yogurt parfait bar at breakfast each morning. That’s how they fuel up for their full-on-attack of Mickey in all his splendor … loads of fiber, protein and antioxidants to keep them powered up through the Teacups to Space Mountain! So yogurt parfaits are sort of intrinsically linked to all things wonderful (and Mickey-fied), at least as far as Gretchen’s concerned!
And me? Well, when my twins were little, I used to set up their tiny, brightly-colored kids’ table out on our shady wrap-around front porch. In the mornings, we’d call that “Mommy’s Cafe,” and I’d do my best diner-waitress act while they giggled and ordered up loads of fresh summer fruit, “cheesy egg omelets” or (you guessed it!) design-your-own yogurt parfaits! *Sigh* I loved those mornings! (And the kids loved the parfaits, let me tell ya!)
So yes … by all means … fruit and yogurt parfaits are still awesome for breakfast! You’re with us on that, right?
And after-school snacks? They’re da bomb!
But today we’re taking them one step further. These beauties are ready to parrrr-tay!
A few months ago, one of our dear friends, Kristen, mentioned that she’d recently had a make-your-own yogurt parfait bar at her daughter’s party … and the kids went crazy for it! And all the moms were like “Whoa! … Brilliant!”
Gretchen had this idea as a fun THK activity to photograph for summer (we love to incorporate our kiddos whenever we can!), and once we heard how popular it was at our friend’s party … it went on the editorial calendar. In pen!
We knew this was an idea we just had to share!
It’s incredibly simple, yet looks so enticingly fun (and tastes fantastic!).
Just supply lots of yogurt (our favorite is protein-rich vanilla Greek yogurt, but you could offer a variety of flavors). Then, lay out pretty bowls with an alluring variety of fresh (or dried) fruits, granola (we love our super-easy Healthy Applesauce Granola), nuts, coconut … whatever you happen to have on hand.
It’s the traditional ice cream sundae bar … on a delicious health kick!
Kids love the control and creativity of building their yummy masterpieces … it’s a super-fun party activity and a snack all in one!
The possibilities are endless!
You could set this out for a birthday party snack. (And hint, hint … if you’re hosting a slumber party, this beats the heck out of chocolate-laden, sugar-filled ice cream bars when it comes to the odds that the kiddos may actually fall asleep later! Never mind that there’s no full-fat ice cream, no chocolate syrup, no nonpareil jimmy sprinkles … the kids won’t care a bit … and you just might get some sleep! )
It’s also a great playgroup snack (the moms will be sooooo thrilled to dig in, too!), and a fun, interactive, keep-em-busy-a-little-longer school party treat!
Oh … and are you in that mid-summer “Mom, I’m bored” place? Psssst … here’s a project and a snack all in one! Should give you at least a few minutes before you hear “Mooooooommmmmmm! I’m boooooooorrrrred!” again!
Don’t have kids? This is still for you!
Picture yourself being the office hero du jour when you bring the fixin’s for yogurt parfaits to your next early-morning business meeting. Imagine the productivity and joy when your entire company avoids the mid-morning doughnuts-and-bagels slump!
And how about a lovely ladies’ luncheon, a quaint baby shower, or even a PTO treat for the teaching staff? Trust us … make-your-own yogurt parfaits are perfect! (They dress up so nicely!) It’s an interactive, social event just making them!
So yes … keep right on having yogurt parfaits for breakfast! We sure will!
But don’t forget that they love to wear party clothes, too!
Next time you’re pulling on a little black dress (or … ummmmm … maybe a Cinderella ball gown as you head to the first-grade Halloween party), don’t forget to bring these along, too!
They’ll be the life of the party, no doubt!
Looking for More Fun, Interactive Kids’ Recipes? Check Out Our:
- No-Bake Fruit “Pizzas”
- Mini Deep Dish Pizzas + Dessert
- Ants on a Log 2.0
- “Veggie Faces” No-Bake Vegetable Pizzas and Wraps
- Mmmmmm … and all of our super-popular Snack Bites
Healthy Yogurt Parfait Party Snacks
From kids' parties and playgroups to office brunch meetings and bridal showers ... this is the fun, delicious and HEALTHY snack everyone will love!
• Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Vegetarian •
Ingredients
- Yogurt (we recommend nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt, but you can offer a variety of flavors)
- Fresh fruit such as: bananas, berries, peaches, or nectarines
- Dried fruit such as: raisins, chopped dates, pineapple, cranberries, and cherries
- Nuts such as: sliced or slivered almonds, chopped pecans, or walnuts
- Coconut
- Granola (we recommend our Easy, Healthy Applesauce Granola)
- Chia seeds or ground flaxseed meal
- Honey or maple syrup for drizzling
Instructions
- To set out a yogurt parfait bar: Offer a large dish of yogurt (or several dishes of various flavors), as well as dishes of fresh fruits, dried fruits, nuts, coconut, granola, chia or flax, honey or maple syrup, etc. Also set out spoons and small dessert cups, bowls, or parfait glasses.
- To build parfaits: Each person can layer yogurt in a bowl or cup, alternating with layers of the other ingredients. Parfaits can be finished with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup, if desired.
This is definitely not just for kids. I love this!!! So healthylicious 🙂
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
You are totally right – adults love these just as much as the kids! Somehow they feel so fun and indulgent, and no matter how many times you eat them, they’re still incredibly delicious! Oooooh … and no bummer sugar-crashes later!! 😀 ~G&S
I think we should start a fanclub for this idea – I don’t think anyone can resist this idea and I’m totally with all those people who can’t! I’m pretty sure I would be firsterderer in line if I was there!!
(Isn’t it a bit early to be thinking of Halloween actually? 😉 )
Ok! You be fan club president and we’ll be the official taste-testers! Sound good?!? Oh – and about that Cinderella ball gown for the first-grade Halloween party? Trust us – things like that require some pre-planning (and the ability to embrace mommyhood with utter abandonment! 😀 ). ~G&S
Ah, the torture of having to wait for the photos to be taken. My guys do the same thing. 😀 This is such a great idea. My daughter would love to do this with her friends.
Oh, Cindy … you shoulda heard our kiddos asking again … and again … and yet again … how much longer until they could eat the parfaits! We foolishly didn’t photograph this post first on that day, and you would have thought we were torturing the little dudes making them wait sooooooo long for the parfaits – lol! And then, when they could finally dig in – you seriously would have thought they had never had a yogurt parfait before in their lives! They were in Heaven! Gretchen’s littlest exclaimed, “This is SOOO good! I could eat this every day!” which is hilarious given how many times she’s eaten yogurt parfaits before! It’s just one of those foods that never gets old and always, always tastes fantastic! 😀 ~G&S
Great idea for dessert for the Grandkids—They love it when we have make your own sundae night, I think they will love this healthy version even more!
Hi, Chriss! Yay for your lucky, lucky grandkids! Sounds like you’re in the running for “Grammy of the Year”! 😀 ~ G&S
I sure love this idea! I think I will have to go shopping for some beautiful new parfait glasses or some jelly sized mason jars to show off the layers!
Thanks so much, Steph! We’re really glad to have inspired you … especially if it gives you an excuse for a fun little shopping adventure! We often have good luck finding pretty glasses inexpensively at discounters like Tuesday Morning or HomeGoods or even Marc’s (so much better when your shopping finds are budget-friendly, right?!?! 😀 ). ~G&S