There’s so much to celebrate in the month of February. There’s Valentine’s Day, Black History Month, President’s Day and, if you love football, the Super Bowl. Gathering around the table and sharing a meal, good conversation and having a fun game to play can make all the difference during the cold winter months. Tired of coming up with ideas on how to gather around and keep the kids occupied during school break? Read along for some ideas.
Valentine’s Day
If you love ‘love’ and you love celebrating friendship and family and love in general, then why not put a little celebration into Valentine’s Day? Set your breakfast table the night before. You can plan and prepare a wholesome delicious breakfast such as berry pancake rollups or chocolate strawberry French toast. Parfaits are also a great option for Valentine’s breakfast. Add red fruits such as sliced apples, raspberries, plums or cranberries to add color to your plate and fiber to your meal. Make pancakes and top them with strawberries, whipped cream and a few red and pink sprinkles to make it even more festive. You don’t have to do too much to make it special; a little bit of effort goes a long way in feeding your body well and putting smiles around the table.
Black History Month
Black history is American history. Celebrate Black History Month by learning more about African American culture. You can learn by visiting your local library and finding books to read, watching a video or attending an event. Make it intentional by learning about individuals that made a difference and maybe teaching someone else. Gather around the table and share what you’ve learned that differs from what you thought you knew. Celebrate Black History Month by finding a traditional recipe and sharing it with others. By learning about others, we can learn more about ourselves and the world around us.
Presidents Day
Presidents’ Day typically falls during school vacation week. Take time to visit a park or go for a hike in honor of our nation’s beauty. Massachusetts has some great free family-friendly programs to check out. Gather around the table and host a trivia hour with yummy snacks. Test your knowledge about what you know or did not know about past presidents. Do you have a favorite president? Is there a particular meal he was fond of? Consider preparing the meal. Don’t have a favorite president? Consider celebrating the day by preparing meals in our nation’s colors of red, white and blue like our fourth of July parfait. Keep the occasion light and fun.
Super Bowl
Will you watch the Super Bowl? If so, maybe you have considered setting up some snacks to enjoy during the game. Game day snacks are usually nachos, buffalo dip and chicken wings. In addition to these classics, be sure to add some fruits and vegetables for a healthy game day. Also consider sliders or potato skins with buffalo chicken. Want to make game day more active? Do 3-5 pushups every time the opposing team scores. Did the other team score a touchdown? Do 5 jumping jacks. By adding physical exercise, you can make the game more interesting and competitive at home by yourself or with your family and friends. Get everyone in on the fun. Soon you will have everyone jumping around and moving their body. This is a great idea to get some laughs and movement and tire young kids out just in time for bedtime.
Just Gather
You don’t need a reason or a particular date to incorporate little moments of fun and learning and wellness. Invite someone over for cookies and tea just because. Plan a taco buffet bar and have friends bring cheese, fresh salsa, or tortilla chips. Host a game night and play a board game—loser must clean up while doing stretches. Make gathering at home fun and relaxing. Not only will you enjoy the food, laughter and company but you will also keep your heart happy and healthy as well.
Did you find this blog post helpful? Please click the heart button!
