PARTY PLANNING
SUMMER 2009

Games to Keep Your Summer Party Rockin'

Having friends over for a little summer shindig? Penny Warner, author of Games People Play, has a couple of suggestions that will be sure to take your party from "blah" to blockbuster!

Bobbing for Olives

Here's a tongue twister that should get your whistle wet at the same time...

Materials Needed:

• Plastic Champagne or other shallow wide-mouthed glasses or bowls, 1 for each player
  
• Alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, such as martinis or sparking water
  
• Olives or cherries
  
• Paper towels or napkins

Playing time: 30 minutes

How to Play:

1. Set the wide-mouthed glasses around the table, one at each seat.
   
2. Pour drinks into each glass, filling them three-quarters full.
   
3. Drop one olive or cherry into each glass.
   
4. On the count of three, tell the players to retrieve the olive or cherry from the glass, using only their tongues. The first player to get the olive or cherry in his or her mouth wins a prize.
   
5. Clean up spills with paper towels or napkins before playing another round.

Variation:

Instead of having all the guests play at the same time, have them play one at a time, so everyone can enjoy watching each player try to retrieve the garnish. Time them to determine the winner. Instead of using one olive or cherry, fill each container with five or six, and have the players retrieve them all, or see who can retrieve the most in a set amount of time.

Venus and Mars

Is the gender gap widening or is that just your imagination? Find out when you play
Venus and Mars.

Materials Needed:

• Index cards
  
• Pens

Playing time: 30-45 minutes

How to play:

1. Divide the players into two teams—one of men and one of women—and send them into separate rooms.
   
2. Give the teams index cards and pens, and ask them to write a series of gender-related stunts or questions. For example, the women may write, "Show us how to put on lipstick, "What is a bobbin," or "Demonstrate the correct way to put on pantyhose," and men may write, "What is a carburetor," "What is an athletic supporter, or "How much does an average trout weigh?"
   
3. After the cards are finished, have the teams sit on opposite sides of the room. Place the index cards in two piles in the center of the room.
   
4. Have a player from Team 1 select a card from Team 2's pile. Tell Team 1 to confer before answering. If Team 1 answers correctly, they get a point.
   
5. Continue alternating teams and questions until the cards are gone.
   
6. Award a prize to the team with the most points.

Variation:

Instead of letting teammates confer, have the player answer the question without assistance.

As the level of silliness rises, you're sure to have a great party on your hands. To make sure that your party games are a success, Penny Warner suggests to, "have plenty of room to play the games, explain the rules clearly and simply, and have plenty of prizes available for winners."

Penny Warner's Games People Play offers 400 choices of games and variations to entertain party guests.

 

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Sweet Berry Recipes Kids Love

As summertime comes into full swing, berries are readily available in stores. Here are two delicious and nutritious strawberry recipes that kids are sure to love from Bridget Swinney, author of Healthy Food for Healthy Kids:

Strawberry Dream Pops

Here's a treat that's full of fiber and vitamin C. This recipe makes eight 3-ounce pops.

You'll need:

• 10-ounce package fresh or frozen, sweetened strawberries, thawed
  
• 2 cups plain nonfat or low-fat yogurt

Directions:

1. Puree fruit and yogurt in a blender.
   
2. Divide pureed mixture among popsicle molds or paper cups; insert sticks.
   
3. Freeze for 3 hours or until firm.

Variation: place bits of fruit or whole berries in the mold before pouring strawberry
mixture.

Each pop provides:

66 calories
14 grams carbohydrate
3 grams protein
3 grams fiber

Key Nutrients:

38% vitamin C
23% calcium

Angel Dessert

This is the perfect dessert for your little angels! This recipe makes ninteen 1-cup servings.

You'll need:

• 1 angel food cake
  
• 1 package (3 ½ ounces) lemon pudding mix
  
• 1 ¾ cup milk
  
• 3 cups light whipped topping, divided
  
• 12 ounces custard-style vanilla yogurt
  
• 1 quart fresh strawberries, washed and sliced
  
• 1 cup fresh raspberries, washed and dried

Directions:

1. Cut cake into 1-inch cubes. Set aside.
   
2. Prepare pudding according to package directions. Fold in 2 cups of whipped topping.
3. In trifle bowl or other large bowl (preferably transparent), place 1/3 of cake cubes followed by 1/3 of pudding mixture and 1/3 of strawberries. Repeat 2 or more times.
4. With remaining cup of whipped topping, spread in thin layer over top, place spoonfuls around edge of bowl, or place in middle. Arrange raspberries decoratively on top. Chill if not serving immediately.

Each 1/2-cup serving provides:

80 calories
16 grams carbohydrate
2 grams protein
2 grams fat

Key Nutrients:

30% vitamin C
17 % calcium

Bridget Swinney's Healthy Food for Healthy Kids is a guide to preparing healthy meals that kids will love to eat. "The older we get, the harder it is to change," says Swinney. "So the earlier you start children on the right eating track, the easier it will be for them to stay the course."

For over 100 kid-tested recipes that include nutrition analyses like the recipes above, check out Healthy Food for Healthy Kids today!

 

Posted: 6/13/2006 2:25:37 PM

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