“Whine” & Cheese Platter: A FROZEN-Inspired Boredom Buster

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The summer is winding down and the school year is right around the corner! If you’re anything like me, your little ones are busting out the “I’m bored!” more often and the whining is in full swing. Now is the perfect opportunity to see what FROZEN things do in summer! In an effort to curb the whines and cries, I put together a FROZEN-inspired boredom buster that is sure to help you let it go and enjoy the last rays of summer sunshine to the fullest.

The first element that I put together was a “Whine” & Cheese Tray. I’m not sure about you, but my boys get HANGRY a ton. The fights increase and the whining is at full volume. I met Scott, a produce worker at Walmart, when I headed to snag some snacks at the store and he went in the back to give me one of the boxes that the grapes arrived in. I thought it was the perfect serving tray for our afternoon activity and snack!

With growing boys, having healthy snacks on hand is super important and they just happen to LOVE grapes. We go through several pounds a week and it is definitely a favorite snack around here. When I find a fruit they love, I will buy it all the time.

Even better, Disney has jumped in the fruit and vegetables game by using characters the boys love to promote healthy snacking! Imagine the the boys’ surprise and delight when I came home with this prized package of grapes – their favorite FROZEN sisters – Anna & Elsa.

I used tinfoil to cover the bottom of my grapes “tray” and put my snack and activity on there to bring to the great outdoors (our backyard).

What goes better with grapes than cheese and crackers? I sliced up some Colby Jack slices, included two different types of crackers, and even found these great FROZEN string cheese to include with our afternoon snack. Which character snack would you choose? I’m partial to Kristoff.

Putting together a simple snack such as this looks like you spent a ton of time, but really just laid out in a few simples steps. I love doing set-ups like this for playdates, with mom friends, and as a special stack and build snack for the boys to enjoy.

Once you’ve finished assembling your snack, it’s time to get active! With FROZEN in mind, I created a DIY “Snow” Painting Station for the boys to enjoy in our backyard. All you need is 1 cardboard “canvas” (we used the top of our grapes tray) and “snow” (tissues, cotton balls, shaving cream, and whipped cream). I used a step ladder as an easel and let the boys set to work!

Summers were made to be messy, so don’t be afraid to let them get crazy! The boys loved using the whipped cream and shaving cream as paint and adding the tissue and cotton balls for extra texture. They never felt the need to lick their fingers, but keep a close eye on them just in case. This activity is was a fabulous boredom buster – a great way to keep them engaged and minimize the whining!

Snacking and playtime is over, time for a little sweet treat! I used some of our FROZEN grapes and white chocolate to create miniature Olafs to enjoy.

The steps are pretty simple. Melt down white chocolate chips over low heat and use a toothpick on the grape to dip and cover them. Place on parchment paper to cool and harden. I also poured little white chocolate “puddles” for Olaf to sit on once I assembled them. Put everything into the freezer or refrigerator to completely cool and set.

Once set, “stack” the grapes using toothpicks. One in the bottom and one in the top should do it. Remind the children about the toothpicks before they eat him! I then used a little white chocolate with red and yellow food coloring combined to create orange noses. Use black decorating gel for the eyes and smile. Voila! You have your Olaf!

While Olaf is freezing and avoiding the summer heat, mix up some more white chocolate and combine with a splash of creamer or half & half. This will help to create a malleable substance that is thicker than what you used to cover the grapes. Take a dollop and put on each of your little “puddles.”

Grab your Olafs and plant him in the white chocolate “snow.” Pop him into the freezer for the last hardening that you need. Time to sit down with your children and enjoy this sweet summer eat!

Ready to put together your FROZEN boredom buster? You can find everything you need at Walmart, including FROZEN grapes.  Be sure to look in the produce section because if you ask someone, they are likely to send you to the frozen food aisles instead (wink, wink).

We LOVE finding healthy options that the boys will love – Disney faces make them much more enticing! Which fruit or vegetable do you think could use a little Disney inspiration?