Plain gelatin made with fruit juice is hit, especially since it can be cut into imaginative shapes (there is a recipe on the back of the Knox Gelatin box). Children, ever more adept than their parents at operating high-tech equipment, have taken over the microwave. Subsequently, all sorts of microwavable snacks are marketed toward kids, and some of them are nutritious.

High on our list is unflavored popcorn. We also make a great taco chip dip by melting a cup of Monterey Jack cheese (or a mixture of whatever cheeses we have on hand) in a Pyrex measuring cup and adding 1/4 cup of store-bought mild salsa. My kids are not impressed with the technology, but they are pleased with the results.

Buy pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds, granola, nuts, and dried fruits (in bulk, if available), then let the kids combine the ingredients to make their own trail mixes. Variety is important, as it enables your children to explore different tastes. The resulting trail mix can then be packaged in serving sizes wrapped in foil or colored cellophane.

Ice cream parlors drummed up new business and enthusiastic crowds when they introduced smoosh-ins--sundaes made with anything from M&M's to chopped nuts to cherries mashed into the ice cream. My children have fun adding their own choice of ingredients to vanilla, fruit or plain yogurt, either fresh or frozen. Their first choice is plain low-fat yogurt with either maple syrup or trail mix and honey.