4th H for Health: December and January Editions

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4th H for Health: December Edition – Christmas Banana Snowmen

Materials:

2 bananas

1/4 of a carrot

Handful of currants or sultanas chopped

3 strawberries

6 grapes

6 skewers

Directions:

  1. Cut the bananas into thick slices (approx. 9 rounds per banana) –
  2. Peel the carrot and cut into small triangular slivers for a pointy nose –
  3. Trim the stem from the strawberries and then cut in half. You should get two hats out of each strawberry –
  4. Cut the grapes in half. (We only used the smooth half and ate the stem end) –
  5. To assemble, thread three slices of banana on to each skewer followed by a strawberry hat and grape half. Gently press the currents into the banana slices to create eyes and the buttons on the body then add the carrot nose

Enjoy!

Bonus Activity:  Energizing Active Breaks

Do each activity for 20-30 seconds:

  1. Jog in place as if the abominable snowman is chasing you.
  2. Take steps in place as if you are snowshoeing
  3. Jump up and down as if you are chestnuts popping on a fire
  4. Reach up as if you are trying to grab the North Star
  5. Jump up as if are jumping into a pile if snow
  6. March in place as if you are a toy soldier
  7. Play the drums as if you are announcing winter solstice
  8. Swim as if you are a in a giant pool of eggnog
  9. Shake your body as if you are a wet Polar bear

 

4th H for Health: January Edition – Penguin Snack

Ingredients:

Oval crackers

Pretzel Crackers

Cream cheese

Sliced black olives

Large whole black olives

Carrots

Directions:

  1. Cut the large olives into quarters to make wings.
  2. Cut some carrot slices into a few small triangles for the beaks and feet.
  3. Spread the cream cheese on the pretzel crackers.
  4. Place olive slices as head and wings
  5. Place carrots as feet and beak

Enjoy!

Mindfulness Activity:

As the holidays wind down and the days become shorter, many people can begin to have the “winter blues”. Breathing exercises are a great way to practice mindfulness, and soften feelings of  sadness, anxiety, or lethargy.

  • INHALE through your nose for 2 seconds (try to fill stomach with air)
  • EXHALE for 4 seconds, like you’re pretending to blow on hot food
  • INHALE count 2
  • EXHALE count 2
  • Repeat 3x!