It wouldn’t be Chinese New Year without an elaborate spread of sweet and salty treats, each of which symbolizes a wish for the coming months — think: prosperity, long life, and, of course, lots of togetherness!
Looking for kid's activities for the Chinese New Year? Whip up one of these fast and fun Chinese New Year recipes, then talk about your wishes for the year as you enjoy the results. Happy snacking!
Create a “Togetherness Tray.”
Chinese New Year is a time for friends and relatives to come together, feast, and wish each other well. Together with your preschooler, fill a serving tray with eight different bite-sized treats to share with visiting family and friends.
Think: dried fruits like apricots, dates, bananas or prunes; sweet or salty nuts; ginger and other small hard candies; and rice crackers or puffed corn snacks. The Chinese consider eight a lucky number, so this activity can easily double as a mini math lesson!
More great recipes
Cook up some long-life noodles.
Method:
Make egg-drop soup.
Directions:
Toss a good-luck fruit salad.
Directions:
Cook up some long-life noodles.
In Chinese culture, noodles are believed to bring the eater longevity — the longer the noodle, the longer the life!
Related Article: Cheery Chinese Lantern
Method:
- Boil half-a-package of Chinese stir-fry noodles (spaghetti will also do the trick in a pinch) until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat up a batch of your child’s favorite fresh veggies in a large pan or wok with a bit of oil. (We like sweet peppers, celery, garlic and green onion with a bit of kale tossed in.)
- When the veggies are cooked but still crunchy, add in the noodles plus a bit of soy sauce mixed with a dash of rice vinegar and sugar and cook until blended thoroughly. Serve hot or cold.
Make egg-drop soup.
A staple at Chinese restaurants, this fun, form-bending soup is surprisingly easy to put together.
Directions:
• Simmer three cups of chicken broth, then add a dash of soy sauce and a bit of grated ginger to taste.
• While the soup simmers, crack two eggs into a measuring cup and whisk until whites and yolks are blended.
• Turn off the heat, then stir the broth vigorously until you’ve created a steady “whirlpool.” Pour the eggs into the whirling broth using a circular motion.
• In about a minute, your soup will be blended and ready to slurp!
Toss a good-luck fruit salad.
In the Chinese tradition, tangerines are believed to represent wealth and prosperity, while oranges bring good fortune in a new year and coconut promotes togetherness.
Directions:
• Peel a handful of citrus fruits of varying color and size, then separate into individual segments.
• After you’ve cut the separated segments into smaller, bite-sized pieces, have your child toss the pieces with a heaping tablespoon of shredded coconut or coconut flakes (either sweetened or unsweetened).
• Chill, then serve as a bright, healthy snack, side dish or dessert.
Looking for other kid friendly recipes?
More Chinese New Year Activities: