SNACK ART

Create a work of art using the following elements:

•The Foundation Celery, carrots, zucchini or cucumbers cut into sticks or rounds; banana, apple or pineapple slices; melon balls; lettuce leaves; or orange sections

•The Cement Peanut butter, cream cheese, cheese spread, yogurt, jam, pizza sauce or ranch dressing

•The Decorations Seeds, nuts, grapes, raisins, olives, frozen peas or beans.

Lay out the materials and give each child plastic utensils and a plate "canvas." Suggest that they build sharks, monsters, cars, flowers, or have them write their names.

TIP: This makes a great birthday party activity.

WIGGLE WORMS

Fruit, such as grapes, melon, bananas or strawberries, cut into bite-size pieces
Pretzel sticks
Chocolate sprinkles (optional)

Spear about four pieces of fruit onto each pretzel, as if making a kebab, to create the worms. Leave a tip at the end for the tail. Parents, you can pre-spear the fruit.

Join two worms with a piece of fruit for a longer creepy-crawler. Use sprinkles to make eyes, spots or tiny feet.

COLD-CUT PUZZLER

Let your child put this puzzling lunch together. Start by making a sandwich with cheese and bologna or other deli meat.

Cut the sandwich into a number of shapes, then separate the shapes, mix them up and place them on her lunch plate.

Have your child reconstruct the sandwich by interlocking the puzzle pieces before she eats it.