Vacation Care Workshop

 Working with children from primary school ages to high school kids is so   rewarding. Today I was invited to join Lifetime Connect and OOSH Nambucca   Valley  vacation care. The focus was on knowledge of every day healthy foods,   snacks and drinks. We did a quiz around the topic and had discussions   on  what,  why  and how we should eat. We all agreed on that mealtimes should be   at a table and without devices. We also agreed on that hot chips for example, are   sometimes food and can be a part of a healthy diet on occasions.
During my visit, I noticed that a lot of the children had a good understanding on what to eat and drink every day and why.
On the menu for the day was snacks in the form of spiced chickpeas, nori chips and a banana/ cinnamon smoothie. Maybe not what the kids was hoping for and some were very sceptic to the food. But it was really proven today that foods that children have helped to prepare, and they consume together in a group, really taste good. Even the most critical ones tried everything and some even went for seconds and thirds, I called that a success, thanks for having me!
 
Roasted Crunchy Chickpeas
1 tin of chickpeas
1 tbls of olive oil
Seasoning:
1/2 tsp of light brown sugar
1 tsp of mild curry powder (hot if you like spicy food)
1/2 tsp paprika powder
A pinch of salt flakes
Turn the oven on to 175 degrees. Rinse the chickpeas and drain, pat them dry gently with a tea towel. Toss the chickpeas in a bowl together with olive oil and then spread them onto an oven tray lined with baking paper. Roast in the oven for approx. 45 minutes (or until crisp), stir every 15 min so they get roasted evenly.
Mix the spices together in a bowl and add the chickpeas while warm (to better soak up the flavours). The chickpeas keep crispy only for a couple of days depending on the humidity.
Variations: Try a seasoning of cumin, paprika and salt. If you like it spicy, add cayenne pepper or if you like it more Mexican, add some smoked paprika!
 
Nori chips
1 packet nori sheets
1 tsp Olive oil
Garlic salt to taste (or regular)
Turn oven on to 150 degrees. Arrange nori smooth side down onto paper lined baking trays. Brush with olive oil and season with garlic salt. Bake in the oven for approx. 3-5 minutes or until crisp.
Variations: Brush the nori with a blend of olive oil, tamari and sesame oil- scatter sesame seeds over. For a spicy version, add a little cayenne pepper. For thicker chips, brush with the oil and add one to two nori sheets on top of each other. Bake for a bit longer for perfect crisp!

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