1. Make fruit and veggies accessible
Small shapes for small hands: Cut carrots and celery into sticks and cucumbers into rounds; buy cherry tomatoes. Keep them in the fridge for easy snacks at any time. Keep fruit washed and ready for little hands to grab-and-go. Keep homemade dip at the ready.
Grapes are great: Wash red, green and purple grapes and skewer on toothpicks.
Easy melon shapes: Use cookie cutters to cut shapes out of melon, pineapple and cucumber to appeal to young children.
2. Enhance the great taste of fruits and veggies
Tasty flavours: Try sprinkling fruit with a little lemon juice mixed with honey, or with cinnamon and sugar. For veggies, try sprinkling with a pinch of sea salt, seasoning salt or dried herbs to punch up the flavour.
Quick dip: For a quick, tasty fruit dip, mix 1/4 cup (50 mL) of plain yogurt with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of honey and pinch of cinnamon.
Go for garlic: Surprisingly, many kids love the pungent flavour of garlic. Try this savoury dip with fresh veggies:
Combine 1 clove minced fresh garlic (or 1 head roasted garlic, squeezed from bulb) with 1/2 cup (125 mL) each plain yogurt or sour cream and light mayonnaise. Add 2 tbsp (25 mL) chopped fresh chives or green onion and 1/4 tsp (1 mL) each salt and pepper. Stir to mix well.
Love leftovers: Toss cold leftover cooked veggies with salad dressing or serve with dip.
Smoothies: Make a smoothie with a variety of fruits, such as kiwi, banana and strawberries, or orange juice with chunks of mango and papaya.
Bake it: Sprinkle veggie slices with cheese and bake until golden and crispy.
Page 1 of 2 - See page 2 for tips on buying the tastiest fruits & veggies PLUS recipes kids love
