If you’ve been looking to give out real food mishloach manos this year, this post is for you. More and more, individuals and families are looking to offer a healthy, cost effective alternative to the candies that are so prevalent on Purim. In going with the wish of many to tie in mishloach manos with a theme, this post is a compilation of many classic theme based food groupings.
Where possible, the food suggestions in this post re “real food” based. What I offer are springboards for our creativity. Take a look, let your creative juiced flow, and remember that the mitzva of mishloach manos is about spreading joy and togetherness.
Enjoy!
Photo credit: http://thedailysmash101.blogspot.ca/
Doctor / Nurse
- Apple (a day)
- Veggie sticks and dips
- Soup broth
- Fruit salad
- Salad in a jar
- White chocolate covered pretzel sticks (thermometers)
- Milk cartons
- Orange / orange juice
Photo credit: http://lifefrosting.blogspot.ca
Astronaut
- Milk(y way) cartons
- Cut star shapes from cheese pieces, melon, cucumbers, carrots
- Star fruit slices
- Cheerios (Saturn’s rings)
- SUN-flower seeds
- String (moon) cheese
- Star shaped cookies
Photo credit: coolest-homemade-costumes.com
Photo credit: www.joyofkosher.com
Construction Worker
The key here is that although assembly is required, it be extremely minimal, with very little effort or time required.
Photo credit: www.chabad.org
- Build your own sandwich – Bread, cheese or deli, veggies
- Build your own salad – Lettuce in container, chopped veggies, cheese, craisins, croutons, seeds, dressing
- Build your own pasta – Pasta, shredded cheese, pasta sauce, sliced olives, grilled veggies
- Build your own parfait – Yogurt, blueberries / chopped fruit, homemade granola
- Build your own pizza – Pre-rolled dough (bake these most of the way through so as to hold their shape and lessen recipient’s bake time), pizza sauce, cheese, sliced olives
Kallah and Chosson (Bride & Groom)
- Challah
- Cake
- Cupcakes
- Grapejuice
Haman
Photo credit: http://overtimecook.com
- Grape juice / wine
- Hamentaschen
- Triangle bourekas (can be dairy, meat, or pareve depending on fillings)
- Triangle fruit turnovers
Photo credit: www.chabad.org
Shabbos Theme
- Grape juice / wine
- Challah
- Kugel
- Dips
Photo credit: www.jewishsource.com
Purim Theme
- Hamentashen (mishloach manos)
- Wine (seuda)
- Chocolate coins (matanos l’evyonim)
- A note rolled into a megilla
Photo credit: www,eventstocelebrate.net
Curious George
Photo credit: http://www.glorioustreats.com/
- Bananas
- Banana chips
- Banana cake / muffins
- Chunky monkey brownies
Farmer / Animals
- Milk carton
Photo credit: www,smittenkitchen.com
- Apples
- Veggie sticks and dip
- Baby carrots
- Black and white chocolate bark (cow)
- Black and white cookies
- Black and white chocolate covered nut clusters *allergy alert – make sure to clearly label as containing nuts
- Oatmeal packets
- Oatmeal cookies
- Red pepper dip
- Vegetable soup blended or chunky with bread sticks / garlic knots
- Chicken fingers
Photo credit: www.kosherscoop.com
- Pumpkin muffins
- Mini pumpkin pies
- Corn muffins
- Corn salad
- Egg salad sandwich / hard boiled egg
- White frosted doughnut holes in an egg carton
Photo credit: www,thefoodies.org
Insects
- Butterfly bag snacks
- Bread and different flavored butter(fly)s
- Raisins (ants)
- Chocolate covered raisins
Bumblebee
- Honeycomb cereal
- Milk carton
- Banana (yellow)
- Little container of honey
- Honey cookies
Photo credit: www.superhealthykids.com
Flowers
- Flower shaped cookies baked on sticks
- Sunflower seeds
- Vegetable bouquets
Photo credit: www.shockinglydelicious.com
Painters / Rainbow
- Sprinkle covered chocolate dipped pretzels
- Fruit salad
- Israeli salad
- Fruit kabobs
- Layered salad in a jar
Pirates
- Chocolate coins
- Mini kabobs on sword shaped skewers
- Bread sticks (swords) and dips
Photo credit: www,jewitup.com
Sports
- Popcorn
- Pretzels
- Trail mix
- Nuts *allergy alert – make sure to clearly label as containing nuts
- Water bottle
Photo credit: www.myshtub.com
Superheroes
- Soup(erheroes)
- Hero sandwiches
- Super-foods
Photo credit: www.dansdeals.com
Airline Meal
Pack onto small rectangular tray and cellophane the entire package.
- Fruit cup
- Single serve cereal
- Milk
- Small water bottle
- Baked dessert
Photo credit: www.gourmetkoshercooking.com
Colonial Theme
- Corn muffins
- Popcorn
- Mini pumpkin pies
- Mini cherry pies
- Apple cider
- Jam
Fireman
- Salsa and chips
- Matbucha and rolls / pita chips
- BBQ chicken
- Grilled vegetable salad / skewers
- Water bottle
Under the Sea
- Sushi (stick with veggie varieties as fish poses health hazards not being refrigerated)
- Can of tuna with packets of mayonnaise and pickle on the side
Clown
- Popcorn
- Homemade soft pretzels or pretzel bites with mustard
Photo credit: www.kidfriendlyhome.com
Beach Theme
- Sand(wiches)
- Pasta salad made with macaroni shells
- Water bottle
