Finger Food to the Rescue!
By C.S. Bezas

Oftentimes in this column I have mentioned the somewhat surprising need to include snacks or refreshments as part of FHE. It's a sad fact that years ago I didn't feel that food or even meal-times held that much significance in the strengthening of families, even when it came to Family Home Evenings.

I was wrong. I've mentioned it before and I'll mention it again. "Face time," where we all sit around and munch together as a family, can be one of the most bonding times a family can have together.

Just think. With food in a parent's mouth, there isn't much literal space left over to criticize a child for leaving his room dirty or for failing the math test the day before!

All joking aside, there are many reasons to eat together, especially at the end of Family Home Evening. Those reasons aren't just about keeping mouths full so we can't speak negatively to each other! Studies have shown that families who eat together in certain ways weather the storms of life together better.

For example, the College of Agriculture & Home Economics at Washington State University issued a press release October 9, 2001. Look at their strong comment (listed in the very first paragraph of the press release):

Despite mounting evidence that families and kids benefit substantially from sharing meals together, there is also evidence that families are eating together less often. (http://cahenews.wsu.edu)

The press release continues with a frightening statement:

"There is solid research that shows that not sharing family meals can have a significant impact on kids," said Cindy Reishus, chair of the Nutrition Education Network. "There are numerous studies and surveys that all point in the same direction. When families don't get together regularly over the dinner table the kids are more prone to depression and drug use, don't eat as well and don't do as well in school" (ibid., emphasis added).

At the site Sixwise.com, another article pointed to a variety of benefits for families that eat together. Several of those benefits were the kids did better in school, had better nutrition, and (again) they were less likely to use drugs.

To solidify this statement, a study by Columbia University found teens were nearly three times more likely to smoke cigarettes or try marijuana if they weekly ate two meals or less with their families (http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters, emphasis added ).

The Sixwise.com site also stated that family mealtime together gave children an "automatic check-in time." As a result, these kids felt that their parents were more engaged in their lives (ibid.).

But there were risks with family food-time together. Studies such as those referred to at the Sixwise.com site clearly stated that parents needed to watch their tongues during dinner ? not to avoid biting them while chewing, but to be kind with the words spoken to children. Harsh meal-times are destructive.

Studies show that successful meal time conversations are focused on the discussion of open-ended questions that engage kids and get them talking about things that interest them, not threaten them. In other words, controlling the tongue meant to these researchers to focus on what is "right" about your children. You can always share "corrections" later at a more appropriate time.

It is interesting to me, after having studied this issue, how something as innocuous as family "snack-time" can be so life-changing. It becomes increasingly clear how inspired our church leaders are when they advise us to have a weekly Family Home Evening and especially to include refreshment or snack time at the end. To the Lord, nothing is temporal ? all is spiritual. He stated:

Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal (D&C 29:34).

The words of the Lord's prophets and apostles become ever more clearly urgent with what we have been counseled as far as Family Home Evening. Thus, it would behoove us to follow these counsels carefully and considerately.

Finger Food for the Family to Enjoy

Thus, since we have been counseled to hold weekly Family Home Evenings on Monday nights, and since part of that recommendation is to include refreshments, here are a few easy-to-throw-together snacks that you can enjoy as a family after FHE (or any time that fits). Not only are these easy, they are also healthy. Now you can look forward to sitting around the kitchen table, getting to know the delightful members of your family as you snack on the refreshments listed below.

Mix & Match

This finger food could not be easier to throw together. In fact, each time you do it, why not vary it depending on who's in charge of refreshments! Optional Ingredients to mix and match:

granola
raisins
dried fruit (i.e. cranberries, banana chips, mango)
sunflower seeds
unsalted cashews
unsalted almonds, etc.
multi-grain Cheerios
pretzel sticks

Mix and match the ingredients in a bowl using a ¼ to ½ cup of each food item. For fun, serve Mix & Match in individual paper muffin cups. If you like, you could start off the snack-time sharing a favorite memory about each family member, one for each item in your muffin cup.

Snowballs

This version of unbaked cookies is sure to delight your family. At the end of FHE, let the kids create these "snowballs" in the palms of their hands (after washing their hands, of course). Then let them prep the "snowballs" by rolling the cookies in the flaked coconut. These are delicious and healthy snacks, good for all year round.

Ingredients:

2 c. peanut butter
2/3 c. wheat germ
1 c. powdered milk
1 c. honey
flaked coconut (or crushed nuts)

You may vary the suggested measurements for each ingredient to your liking. Mix together the first four ingredients until completely smooth. Using a tablespoon, scoop out a small amount of "dough" into the hand of each child. Let them roll the concoction into a ball, finishing with rolling the ball in coconut (or crushed nuts).

The Ants Go Marching

This is a common snack that many young children actually have fun with (and that parents love, due to the healthy contents).

Optional Ingredients:

celery, washed and cut into four inch sticks
peanut butter
cream cheese
raisins

Allow family members to fill their own celery sticks with either peanut butter or cream cheese. Then have them press the raisin "ants" into the filling. Enjoy crunching and discussing the events of the day together.

The Ants Go Bathing

Here is a variation on the "ant stick" finger food above. Younger kids especially should get a kick out of this and the older kids will simply chow the snacks quickly!

Optional Ingredients:

rice cakes
peanut butter
cream cheese (fruit flavored, if desired)
raisins
bananas, sliced
cranberries
strawberries, sliced

Allow family members to slather their rice cakes with their choice of either peanut butter or cream cheese (or if really daring, both!). Then let the family decorate their "ant tubs" with desired fruit pieces before eating.

Summary

Life may be more complex than the adage, "The family that eats together stays together." But then again, the power of mealtime and eating-time together cannot be understated. Sociologists and researchers have brought together powerful studies that allude to this point.

Thus, as you hold Family Home Evening each week, why not make sure that the snack or refreshment time afterward becomes as much a time to "play" together as much as it is for eating together.

Even celebrities are beginning to recognize the importance of family time spent together eating. Paula Deen (celebrated cook, author and TV personality) partnered with a food company last fall to help educate parents about the importance of spending time eating with their kids (http://www.prnewswire.com/).

True, fifty years ago Paula Deen's new focus might have been viewed as a ludicrous thought - to have to teach families to spend face-to-face time at the kitchen table. But today this is urgent, as even non-members now recognize the breakdown of the family in most portions of society.

As members of the Church, though, we've been given a powerful antidote: Family Home Evening. At lds.org, we can read the following counsel about this simple time together as a family:

Latter-day prophets continue to urge Church members to give highest priority to family home evening. They have promised that our dedication to this program will help protect our families against the evils of our time and will bring us abundant joy now and throughout the eternities (http://www.lds.org).

Included in the Church's recommended structure for Family Home Evening is time at the end for refreshments (ibid.). One now can begin to see why!

Look at this promise for those who consistently hold effective Family Home Evenings:

If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them.

This promise was given nearly one hundred years ago (by the First Presidency of the time: Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, and Charles W. Penrose)! Could this promise be received by us now, during a time in which Satan rages in the hearts of some of God's children? Most definitely. All we need do is obey and open our hearts to the possibilities and blessings that await us for setting aside Monday nights as family time - to study the gospel, to strengthen each other, and yes...to snack together in love.

Thus, as you hold Family Home Evening this week, make sure you end it with face-to-face "refreshment time" with your beloved family at your own kitchen table. Whether you sample these simple finger foods shared above or some of your own, make sure you include fun and healthy snacks as part of the FHE experience. Not only will you increase the health of your family, but this snack-time together will increase the bond amongst family members if approached in a fun and upbeat way. Not bad, for just a few lowly celery sticks and a smudge of peanut butter! Truly, it's "finger food to the rescue!"

C.S. Bezas' new book is now in LDS bookstores and has been called perfect for youth leaders and parents of teens. Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers: Helping Youth Find Their Spiritual Wings is also available by clicking here.

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C.S. Bezas graduated from BYU in communications, with an emphasis in developing training programs. She has conducted trainings and workshops for audiences both large and small on a wide variety of topics and has won recognition for her writings and stage musicals. She is the owner of the new LDSMusicals.org, a site that offers free LDS music and stage productions. She has appeared as a speaker in a variety of locations in the United States and also has performed before audiences on television, stage, and film, most recently appearing as Anne Frank with the Florida Orchestra. Her new book Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers is available in LDS bookstores and online. She serves as an EFY speaker and seminary teacher. She and her husband have four children and relish the gospel of Jesus Christ.