just for kids

february 2003

Just before Thanksgiving, I visited my 7-year-old granddaughter and took her to Ashley's in Medina, Ohio, for afternoon tea. Megan has always loved playing tea party, but this was her first experience at enjoying a "high" tea at a tea house. She loved her experience so much that she called last night and wanted me to plan a tea party for her friends on Valentine's Day, one of whom has diabetes. Going to Ashley's had been nixed by her parents because of the expense ($12.50 per person plus tax and tip), but my daughter-in-law offered to serve the "high" tea at home for the girls, replicating how the tea was served at Ashley's.

So here's the party plan. Megan cut out 3 large red paper hearts and printed the following invitation on each heart: You are Invited for Tea On February 14, 2003 from 4 to 5 p.m. At Megan's House She then cut each heart into pieces so that each heart became a jigsaw puzzle. Then she carefully put the pieces of each heart puzzle into individual envelopes, which she decorated with Valentine stickers, and will hand deliver to her friends. Other before-hand preparations included choosing a pretty linen tablecloth with matching napkins (Megan chose a pink linen cloth with embroidered violets) that would fit their dining room table, which without any table leaves just comfortably seats four people with plenty of room for the elements of the tea party. She also selected four small china plates, four china cups and saucers, and four small forks and teaspoons. By calling around to other members of the Ohio family, my daughter-in-law was able to round up four small china teapots (each holding about 2 cups of tea). She also borrowed a 3-tier dessert platter to hold the various kinds of food that would be made to eat with the tea. Megan wanted to give a Valentine's gift for each friend so they went shopping and found inexpensive tiny china cats and beaded hair ribbons in several shades of pink and red, which will decorate the table and serve as keepsakes for the party. A week before the party, the mother of the friend with diabetes will be called for advice on what her daughter could eat at the party. After that consultation, the menu can be finalized, multiplying the amount that the friend could eat by four so that each girl had the same amount of food. The sugar-free chocolates will be purchased from Russell Stover's - they are shaped and individually wrapped in colored foil like the familiar "kiss" candy by made by Hershey's. The choice of tea was what Megan had enjoyed at Ashley's - feel free to substitute another variety. Tiny Toasted Chicken Salad Sandwiches Cheese Quesadillas Strawberry Fluff and Purchased Sugar-Free Chocolates Pots of English Breakfast Tea Individual Packets of Sugar Substitute and Half Slices of Lemon Since it was doubtful, without adults at the table, that the girls would take a full hour for their "high" tea, another activity was planned. Sugar-free cherry licorice will be provided to snack on as they work. They will be making Love Coupons for their mom and dad for Valentine's Day. This is a particularly great gift for parents (or grandparents). Have the girls cut out several hearts from pink construction paper. Then with washable marker pens, have them write down a job on each heart-such as taking out the trash, setting the table, emptying the dishwasher, walking the dog, folding the laundry, shoveling the walk, sweeping the driveway, watering indoor plants, and other chores applicable for the girls' ages. Then have them sign their name on each heart and place their hearts in a large white envelope that they decorate with colored markers and Valentine's stickers. It's important that children with diabetes be treated like "normal" children as much as possible, and that includes educating their friends about the dietary, and sometimes physical restrictions, that they must live with on a daily basis. A tea party can be a perfect training ground for everyone. Here are the Recipes: Tiny Toasted Chicken Salad Sandwiches (makes 4 servings) 1 4-ounce boneless, skinless cooked chicken breast half, finely minced 2 tablespoons finely minced celery 2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 4 slices crustless firm-textured bread butter-flavored cooking spray In a small bowl, combine chicken, celery, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Divide between the bread slices and spread evenly, not quite to the edge. Fold each slice of bread in half lengthwise to make 4 folded half-sandwiches. Lightly coat a non-stick skillet with cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add the sandwiches and cook, turning occasionally, until nicely toasted on both sides. Remove from heat and serve slightly warm. Arrange on a serving plate (the bottom tier if using a 3-tiered serving platter). Per serving: 140 calories (29% calories from fat), 11 g protein, 4 g total fat (1.0 g saturated fat), 13 g carbohydrate, 1 g dietary fiber, 24 mg cholesterol, 214 mg sodium, 121 mg potassium Diabetic exchanges: 1 lean protein, 1 carbohydrate (bread/starch) Cheese Quesadillas (makes 4 servings) butter-flavored cooking spray 4 7-inch fat-free flour tortillas 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons minced scallion, white part and 1 inch green Lightly coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Place over medium-high heat. Place 1 tortilla in the skillet and top with 1/2 cup cheese and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon scallion. Top with a second tortilla. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes peer side, turning once, until cheese is melted and tortilla is lightly toasted. Repeat using the remaining 2 tortillas and the rest of the cheese and scallion. Cut each tortilla into 6 wedges. Arrange on a serving plate (the middle tier of a 3-tiered serving platter). Serve slightly warm. Per 3-wedge serving: 196 calories (24% calories from fat), 6 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat), 12 g protein, 24 g carbohydrate, 1.2 g dietary fiber, 18 mg cholesterol, 550 mg sodium, 4 mg potassium Diabetic exchanges: 1 medium-fat protein, 1 1/2 carbohydrate (bread/starch), Strawberry Fluff (makes 4 servings) 1 0.3-ounce package sugar-free strawberry jello 1 cup boiling water 1 cup fresh orange juice 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries 12 sugar-free foil-wrapped chocolate "kisses" Dissolve jello in boiling water, following the package directions. Stir in orange juice. Chill until the jello has the consistency of unbeaten egg whites, about 20 minutes. Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat jello mixture until it triples in bulk, about 5 minutes. Fold in strawberries. Transfer mixture to a covered container and chill until ready to serve. To serve, spoon into individual dessert dishes. Arrange the dishes on a serving plate (the top tier of a 3-tier platter) and scatter the chocolates between the dishes. Keep cold until tea time. Per serving (Strawberry Fluff only): 61 calories (6% calories from fat), 2 g protein, trace total fat (0 saturated fat), 13 g carbohydrate, 2 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 56 mg sodium, 231 mg potassium Diabetic exchanges: 1 carbohydrate (fruit) Editors Note: If fresh strawberries aren't in season, substitute sugar-free raspberry jello and no-sugar-added frozen raspberries. FTG