Dreamsicle Fruit Dip & Giveaway

I struggle with getting my kids to eat healthy foods.  One way I have some success is by involving the kids in choosing foods, buying foods, and preparing foods. As I previewed The Best Homemade Kids' Snacks on the Planet by Laura Fuentes of Momables, I looked for recipes simple enough for the kids to help cook.

One of the lines from a recipe description rang true for me:

Truth be told, I came up with this easy recipe because sometimes calling it a pizza is a lot easier than getting my kids to eat fruit. 

I do this with my own children too-cookies, pizza, meatballs, and cake...the stuff my kids love. My kids enjoyed making the Blueberry Snack Cookie filled with rolled oats and ate a healthy serving of oatmeal which they ALWAYS refuse. Kids can need between 15-20 exposures to a new food before they readily eat it. Starting with oatmeal in a "cookie" works for us.

Fuentes's line about trying to associate something fun with a new recipe spoke to my teacher instincts. As I looked for easy, kid-friendly recipes to get the kids active in the kitchen, I started matching some of the recipes with well-known children's books.

• Italian Flag Bites with Strega Nona
• Crepes (there were tons of options for sweet or savory) with If You Give a Pig a Pancake 
• Ninja Turtle Nuggets with The Foolish Tortoise

I am taking this philosophy into my younger children's day care to do a lesson on "Keeping Cool in the Kitchen." I'll be pairing this Dreamsicle Fruit Dip with two great books: Gregory the Terrible Eater and Eating the Alphabet. Another hint Fuentes and Parents Magazine recommend is using dips as a way to increase kids' acceptance of fruits and vegetables.

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INGREDIENTS:

• 6 ounces of vanilla Greek yogurt
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a medium bowl, mix yogurt, cream cheese, and orange juice concentrate. Mix until thoroughly combined.
2. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Serve with fruit. 

DIFFICULTY: Easy

TIME: 10 minutes

SOURCE: The Best Homemade Kids' Snacks on the Planet

We are thrilled to be able to offer a lucky winner a copy of The Best Homemade Snacks on the Planet! To enter, just leave a comment in the comment section below.  The contest runs until 9pm August 2, 2015.