Your kids must eat, but sometimes they can be so picky. It can be tempting to just give in and let them eat junk all the time, but you want them to eat a healthy balanced diet so they can grow up strong and healthy. What you need are some ways to get them to be more interested in the foods you are feeding them. Making cute snack ideas for kids is a great way to get them interested in eating healthier.

Here are some cute snack ideas to get your kids eating:

Linkin’ Logs

Kids like to play with their food, so why not let them once in a while? Have them use pretzel sticks, carrots, celery, and any other cracker or veggie that can be cut into a rectangular or stick shape, to build a little food house. Use hummus or cream cheese as the mortar, and then eat it all up once it’s built.

Octopus

What could be more fun than eating tentacles? All you need is some cut up (nitrate free) hot dogs and some uncooked noodles. Spear four noodles through each piece of hot dog, and then boil until the noodles and hot dogs are cooked through. Serve your mini octopus with ketchup, mustard, or whatever their choice of dipping sauce is.

Happy Face

Put a smile on her face and her plate by arranging different fruits and vegetables to look like a face. You can even turn this snack into an art project by letting your kids build their own faces. Food tastes so much better when it’s fun.

Sushi Rolls

Use tortillas and your choice of fillings to make “sushi rolls” for your little ones. For example, spread peanut butter on a whole-wheat tortilla, and then place a banana, some raspberries, and some blueberries on one edge, and then roll it up. Slice up your roll and serve with chopsticks to make eating even more fun. The variations on this idea are endless.

Everything Pizza

Who doesn’t like pizza? Most kids will eat anything that is on a pizza, so use this to your advantage and have a “make your own” pizza snack. Use halved English muffins and spread on some sauce. Top with cheese, veggies, and whatever other ingredients you like. Pop them into the oven or toaster oven for a few minutes and enjoy.

Tots

Not everything can be as delicious as a tater tot, but there are a lot of things that can be. You can use all sorts of vegetables, like cauliflower and shredded zucchini, to make your own versions of tots. Serve them with ketchup and they’ll never know the difference.

Offer Variety

Sometimes all it might take is a fun display and a bit of variety. Instead of just offering one food, try offering a few options in small amounts. This can peak interest and keep them interested.

Hands On

If you can give your kids the chance to make something themselves, they are a lot more likely to eat it. Do as many “build your own” snacks as you can think of, and let them help in the kitchen when possible.

Sometimes getting your kids to eat anything that isn’t cake can be a battle of wills. A little bit of cleverness can go a long way though, and you might just be able to trick your kids into eating what you put in front of them by making snack and meal times cute or fun. Try these ideas with your kids, and then spin off of what works with your own versions.