The Best Birthday Meals

What child would not be delighted with breakfast in bed on his birthday? Surprise him with something out of the ordinary, such as pancakes or muffins. Feel free to use a boxed mix, and just add a handful of a special ingredient, like chocolate chips or blueberries. Slice up some fruit and serve with a glass of milk for a protein boost, especially if his birthday falls on a school day. He'll need the extra nutrition to get through his exciting day.

Your child will feel extra-special on his birthday when he opens his lunchbox and sees foods worthy of celebration. Instead of the sandwich he gets most days, surprise him with a variety of cut-up fruits and veggies and a single-serving size container of dip. Baby carrots, cucumber rounds, and pepper slices are good choices for dipping. Grapes, strawberries, and chunks of cantaloupe taste great when dipped in yogurt or peanut butter mixed with honey. Another idea is to use cookie cutters to cut his PB&J into fun shapes. Splurging on things that you don't normally buy, whether that's fruit leather, string cheese, or cups of pudding, is also a way to make his birthday lunch memorable.

Your birthday boy will probably want to pick his favorite food for dinner. That might mean getting take-out, or it may mean a kid-friendly favorite, such as chicken nuggets with creamy dip, spaghetti and meatballs or sloppy joes. Whatever you make or pick up, make it extraordinary by adding little touches to the table. Serve non-messy foods on paper plates featuring his favorite character, for example. Another option is to designate a particularly fancy plate as the "birthday plate," and each family member gets to use it on his birthday. Tie balloons to your child's dining chair and hang a "Happy Birthday" banner from the ceiling for a festive atmosphere.

No birthday dinner would be complete without a big slice of birthday cake and a scoop of ice cream. Whether you order a cake from the local bakery or make it yourself, make sure it's your child's favorite flavor. Use icing tubes to make swirls and flowers if you made your own cake, or invite your child to decorate it himself if he wants to -- he might get a kick out of piling on as many sprinkles and as much icing as he wants. Add candles, turn out the lights, and enjoy the last moments of your child's birthday celebration.