Her son--like countless other picky eaters--believes that food tastes better when it is dipped before it is eaten. He feels he's making his own snack.
FISH IN A POND
1/2 cup low-fat cream cheese or cheese spread
Fish-shaped crackers
4 celery ribs, stems removed
Scoop the cream cheese into a bowl. (You can tint the cream cheese with blue food coloring to make it look like a pond.) Place the goldfish in a separate bowl, or surround the "pond" with them. Let the kids dip the celery sticks into the cheese, then into the bowl of crackers to "catch" a fish. Serves 2.
APPLE FONDUE
1/2 cup low-sugar, low-fat chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup crispy rice cereal
1/8 cup raisins
2 green apples, cut into wedges
Mix the peanut butter, cereal, and raisins in a small bowl. Let the kids dip the apple wedges into the thick peanut butter mixture. If you prefer to thin it, melt the peanut butter in the microwave first, then add the cereal and raisins and serve warm. Serves 2.
SAY CHEESE
Heat your favorite cheese spread or cheese (try cheddar or brie) in a glass bowl in the microwave until just melted. Be sure to watch it closely: cheese melts fast. Offer the kids a variety of snacks to dip into it, such as pretzel sticks, apple wedges, grapes, breadsticks or carrot sticks, and other cut-up veggies.
