Fun Snacks for Kids That They Can Make

Trail Mix

• Have kids select four or more ingredients to make a batch of trail mix. Ideas include dry cereals, raisins, dried cranberries, small cheese crackers, granola, pretzels, small chocolate candies, butterscotch chips, peanuts or almonds. Have kids measure out a 1/2 cup of each ingredient they have selected and pour it in a large bowl. Use a spoon to mix the ingredients together. Place the trail mix in a large, airtight container for storage, or scoop 1/2-cup servings into plastic snack bags for easy access.

Fruit Salad

• Have kids help make a fruit salad for a healthful and nutritious snack. Ask kids to peel a banana and slice it into 1/2-inch rounds. Place the banana slices in a large bowl. Then ask kids to wash 1 cup of grapes and add it to the bowl. Help kids core and cut an apple into 1/2-inch pieces. You can add 1/2-inch pieces of cantaloupe, honeydew melon or watermelon to the bowl, depending on your kids' preferences. If strawberries, blackberries or blueberries are in season, add a few of these to the bowl as well. Have kids use a large spoon to mix the fruit salad together. Dish out a 1/2 cup of fruit salad for each child to enjoy. Cover and refrigerate the left over fruit salad for later.

Pita Bread Mini Pizzas

• Kids can learn to make their own mini-pita bread pizzas. Ask kids to place a pita bread round on a microwave-safe plate. Squeeze 1 to 2 tablespoons of squeezable pizza sauce on the pita bread and spread it around with a spoon. Sprinkle 1/8 cup of mozzarella or Italian blend cheese on top. Allow the kids to add other toppings, such as pepperoni, Canadian bacon, pineapples, olives or mushrooms to their pizza. Microwave pizzas for 1 minute to heat and melt the cheese. After it cools, cut it in half for a snack to share with a sibling or friend.

Rice Cake Faces

• Invite kids to have fun and play with their food. Give kids a plain rice cake. Allow them to spread 1 to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, almond butter, hummus or cream cheese over the rice cake with a plastic knife. Bring out small food items such as raisins, dried cranberries, blueberries, chocolate chips, dry cereal, shredded carrots, apple slices or coconut flakes to create faces and hair on the rice cakes. Make happy faces, sad faces, or scary faces, and add wild and crazy hair. Best of all, kids get to eat their artwork.