Sharjah 24: If there’s a surefire way to get young, fussy eaters to embrace nutritious options, it's by offering them the independence to create their own meals and snacks. The Cookery Corner at the Sharjah Children Reading Festival (SCRF 2024) witnessed young aficionados exercise this freedom to create healthy and filling beverages at the ‘Super Smoothies’ workshop held on Saturday.
During the 30-minute workshop, instructor Lamia Msallam laid down a host of easily available seasonal ingredients like strawberries, bananas and milk, which the participants whizzed up to create creamy and colourful beverages that can be enjoyed for breakfast or a snack.
A touch of indulgence in the form of vanilla ice cream was added to beat the summer heat.
“Packed with all the good stuff, these delicious concoctions are guaranteed to give them a burst of energy and put a big smile on their faces,” said Msallam who led the session along with her team of chefs. "Healthy eating can be fun, and our Super Smoothies workshop is the perfect example as we wanted to inspire kids to make nutritious food choices while having a great time. This workshop is a fantastic opportunity for them to get creative in the kitchen at the same time and learn valuable skills that will last a lifetime."
During the workshop, children had the chance to experiment with different fruits, and other ingredients like whipping cream and sprinkles to create their own unique smoothie recipes.
"Smoothies are a great way to get kids excited about eating fruits," said a parent of an attendee. "By involving them in the process of making their own smoothies, we saw them learn valuable lessons about nutrition and empower themselves to make healthy choices."
For three-year-old Jordanian Leen Mohammed Al Mousa, one of the youngest participants, it was the smoothie at the end of it all that mattered the most. “I loved having the mix. It was delicious,” she said. Meanwhile, for Palestinian Basil Anas, the session was all about creativity.
“I don’t like fruits that much but I enjoyed the session because it let me design my own smoothie with sprinkles, cream and a colourful straw of my choice,” said the eight-year-old student of Emirates American School Sharjah. Yet, for his friend Tyme Saad, the session was all about getting to have icecreams. “I love vanilla and am glad the smoothie was made up of my favourite flavour,” said the eight-year-old Syrian who goes to Al Ahliya Private School.
The Super Smoothies workshop is part of SCRF's commitment to providing children with fun and educational experiences that promote a love for not only reading but also learning and healthy living.
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