USA - Hawaiian food for kids

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It can be difficult to get children to try exotic foods. Hawaiian food, however, is a different story. Not only does it have the sweet and tangy flavors that children love, it often comes in a familiar form, such hot dogs, grilled chicken and pudding.

Hawaiian Sweet Bread 

Hawaiian Sweet Bread (Photo)

Hawaiian sweet bread is a treat that can be served as either an appetizer or dessert. It also can be eaten plain or as part of a sandwich. Like most tropical recipes, Hawaiian sweet bread has that extra kick of sweetness that makes it perfect for nibbling, especially for smaller children who are still forming strong teeth. The most famous brand is King's Hawaiian. If you can't find it at your local store, you can order it online from the company's website. 

Include Hawaiian sweet breads that can be eaten plain or with fruits, dips, spreads or jam on the menu. Because of its softness, the bread is a perfect choice for very small children who have not yet developed strong teeth.

Haupia

Haupia (Photo)

Haupia is a popular coconut-based Hawaiian dessert, usually served at luaus. Although technically a pudding, it is similar to Jello in its consistency and served in block form. Not all supermarkets may carry this dessert, but it's simple to replicate. The ingredients are merely coconut milk, sugar, salt and cornstarch and there are plenty of recipes online to consult. Haupia is a perfect snack for kids who love coconut and Jello-style desserts.

Hawaiian-Style Hot Dogs

Hawaiian-style Hot dog (Photo: unknown)

The Hawaiian-style hot dog was created by an eatery called Puka Dog in Kauai. In this version, the buns wrap completely around the hot dogs and are filled with a variety of tropical sauces, mustards and fruit relishes. Many of the flavors are from plants native to Kauai. Although Puka Dog is located only in Hawaii, all of its sauces can be ordered online. Serving this snack to kids is a great way to give the run-of-the-mill hot dog some island flair.

Huli-huli Chicken

Huli-huli chicken (Photo)

Huli-huli is a traditional Hawaiian marinade that's usually made of soy sauce, ginger and pineapple juice. It's most commonly used to coat chicken right before it is placed on the grill. Chicken is marinated in sauce made up brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger and pineapple juice. In Hawaii, this dish is often served at outdoor school and church fundraisers and makes the perfect summer afternoon snack. The flavors are sweet and savory, but not too spicy. The chicken can be cut into bite-sized pieces to make it more manageable for small children to eat.

Hawaiian Fruits

Hawaiian fruits (Photo)

In Hawaii, tropical fruits, such as bananas, papayas and strawberries can be seen everywhere. Fruits are not only delicious but nutritious for kids also and therefore, serving them in bite-size shapes will be a good choice for a kids' party. Other tropical fruits found in Hawaii include mango, coconut and passion fruit. You may thread the fruits onto skewers to make fruit kabobs. Other fruit serving options include fruits dipped in marshmallows, watermelon balls served in carved watermelon shell, kiwi slices, pineapple wedges or fruits on toothpicks. The Hawaiian fruit punch drink is another way to serve fruits.

Finger Foods

Hawaiian chicken Katsu (Photo)

Finger foods are excellent for children, as they can carry them around while playing. Chicken katsu strips with a teriyaki dip or sweet and sour sauces are an appropriate choice for children. Other Hawaiian foods for children include pineapple and ham skewers, and chunks of fruits and meat. Bell peppers will add color and crunch to the kids' foods. Kids will also love spam musubi, which are fried eggs and rice wrapped in dried seaweed.

Snacks

Hawaiian Macadamia nuts (Photo)

Macadamia nuts are a specialty of Hawaii and you can serve them raw for children more than four- or five-years-old, because smaller children may choke on whole nuts. Cookies in the shapes of fish or palm trees will also be an ideal choice as snacks for kids. Huli huli chicken coated in huli huli sauce made of ginger, pineapple juice and soy sauce has a savory and sweet taste that is perfect for kids. Chicken cut into small pieces will be more manageable for children.

By Charlotte Kirkwood