The Kid's Table

 THey're often related to  a separate table in the kitchen. Theyr'e forced t eat food they really don;t want to eat. Wh9o are they> Kids at a holiday table. Be kind this Christmas and let them just have ajust for fun meal.

Kids are notoriously ignored  - but in a good way - during holiday dinners. It's basically they have to sit there and endure adult talk. Why not make it  a fun dimmer. Do what the restaurants do - have plain paper and small boxes of crayons for them to draw. This keeps them busy and avoids  squabbling. As for drinks, yes they can have soda however but why not a kid friendly punch to make them feel special.Make them a Grinch colored one that has a mix of Sprite , lime Hawaiian Punch and lime sherbet.  You can also create a fun blend using Sprite or flavored seltzer and a blend of cranberry and orange juices. As for the meal itself kids love sandwiches so why not create a hot sandwich for them. Turkey can easily be put on a split roll and covered with gravy.Ham can be sliced thinly and served in a kid friendly roll up. The little ones should eat their veggies but some of the more sophisticated vegetable dishes may upset delicate stomachs. Serve them plain. Steam spinach and broccoli. Roast yams and sweet potatoes. Serve them in smaller portions and with a kid favorite butter.If they can't have the real thing then, get I Can't Believe It's Not Butter/

End the kid meal with a spectacular dessert. Kids are not going to go for boozy trifle. They're probably fed up with cookies right now. WHy not have a peppermint sundae? It may be chilly and snowy outside but the young ones love an ice cream concoction. Add chocolate syrup and layer it between the scoops. Whipped cream is a must as are red and green sprinkles on top. Let the kids create their own. You could also have chocolate ice cream for them as well. Have soda and seltzer handy too for making fun ice cream sodas. The whipped cream and sprinkles can be used dhere as well. Cupcakes are a must. A fun idea is serving plain ones with just icing on top . Arrange a small table with bowls of red and green M & Ms , sprinkles, along with candy eyes and broken pretzel pieces  for antlers. Also have marshmallows to make snowmen. Another fun idea is a Christmas candy charcuterie board. Have trays full of chocolate Santas and bells , along with coins, and a variety of different flavors of Hershey Kisses, Hershey's has put out a new snickerdoodle flavor that 's sure to be a big hit.Scatter mini candy canes throughout the table.

Christmas is supposed to be for kids. Yet the main meal and dessert  are often geared for adults. Change it up and let the kids enjoy both savory and sweet like their older counterparts.