Kid's Fruit Kebabs

I have served fruit kebabs for breakfast with an egg casserole.

This week is "eat your fruit" week.  OK, I made it up, but doesn't it sound good.  Most of the time it is easier to get the kids to eat their fruit than to eat their veggies, but unfortunately with all the prepackaged sweets offered at the grocery store a fresh peach may not sound as tantalizing as a chocolate sandwich cookie.

Below, I included a recipe for strawberry cream cheese dip to serve alongside the kid kebabs.  I have found that kids are a lot more likely to eat something if one, they helped make it and two, the food is separated into small piles and they get to dip their food.  You would think I was talking just about toddlers, but I have found it to be true of older kids, too.  Kids love dip...I could do a whole week on dips.  I know some parents are hesitant to offer the extra calories, but the point is to get children to try new things and acquire a taste for healthy foods.  Hummus with carrot and celery sticks (OK we throw in pita chips, too) is one of my kids' favorite snacks.

I love this recipe because it is fun for the kids to make and to eat.  You can add protein for a delicious lunch or after-school snack by including chunks of cheese and lunch meat.

Kid's Fruit Kebabs

watermelon, strawberries, grapes, pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew
deli turkey & ham, cubed
cheddar cheese, cubed
bendable drinking straws
wooden skewer

Cut fruit into bite-size pieces. Use a wooden skewer to make a hole through the center of each piece of food before layering them onto the straw.  Turn a drinking straw upside down and fold the bendable part of the straw around, creating a handle. Slide a piece of food onto the straw, pushing it to the bottom and onto the hooked part of the straw to secure the handle. Continue layering the meat, cheese and fruit until the straw is full. Serve chilled alongside strawberry cream cheese dip.

This dip is so good you can serve it at a party!

Strawberry Fruit Dip

1 cup yogurt (vanilla)
1 8 oz. package of cream cheese
1/2 cup strawberry jam

Put all ingredients in the blender. Blend until smooth. Makes a pretty pink fruit dip. Very kid friendly.