By Amy Brantley, Contributing writer

Let's face it, the typical birthday cake has lost some of its luster, and some teachers no longer allow big birthday celebrations at school. And many parents want their children to only eat healthy snacks. How can you please everyone? The key is to come up with a creative snack that's healthy. The creativity will be appreciated by children, while teachers will enjoy the fact that the snack is small. And parents will love the fact that the snack is healthy. Here are five creative ideas to get you started.

1. Cupcake Muffins

What if you could please children who love cupcakes, and please their health conscious parents at the same time? The key is to make muffins look like cupcakes. According to WebMD.com, a diet that includes whole grains can reduce the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. When making birthday muffins, why not use a mix of 100 percent whole wheat flour and regular flour? (Using only whole wheat flour can throw off the texture of the muffins.) Don't forget to also add a delicious frosting made with fat-free cream cheese and a sugar substitute.

2. Birthday Mix

If you want to be really creative, why not make a special birthday mix? It can be a trail mix or a snack mix. The mix can be made with the birthday boy or girl's favorite healthy ingredients. It can also be made with ingredients that start with the first letter of their name. For example, a birthday mix for Bethany might have Brazil nuts, dried blueberries, dried blackberries and banana chips.

3. Celebration Smoothies

Smoothies are a wonderful way to trick children into eating healthy foods. MayoClinic.com even recommends smoothies as a way to get kids to eat healthier. You can even be creative by using healthy ingredients to match your child's favorite color. For example, if they love purple, use blueberries mixed with fat-free vanilla yogurt.

4. Fruit Kabobs

Kids love foods served with a fun presentation, even if they're healthy foods. The key is to remember to trim down the kabobs so that they aren't sharp. Also, make the kabobs colorful by using a variety of different fruits. You can even include a healthy dipping sauce made with yogurt or peanut butter.

5. Sweet Potato Chips

What would a birthday party be without chips? Instead of buying fried potato chips, why not make your own baked potato chips? All you need to do is thinly slice sweet potatoes and bake them in the oven at 350 degrees until they become crispy. You can then toss them with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar substitute to make them sweeter. According to TheDailyPlate.com, a medium sweet potato has a little more than 100 calories, 0 grams of fat and 3 grams of fiber, making it a healthy snack for children.