[cocotbo]

I found instructions for making a hot dog octopus to jazz up the ever-popular Mac & Cheese with hot dogs. (Slice the hot dog about 3/4 of it's length, vertically, to create 4 "tentacles". When you boil it, the tentacles will curl and then you can sit it on top of a bowl of mac & cheese.) I thought that this was a really fun way to present a common food and make it fun for kids.

Does anybody have any other tips for making foods fun for kids?

[mcmama]

This is a great thread!

One summer we had kind of an "under the sea" theme for the preschoolers. One of the desserts we made with them was a jello aquarium. We used blue jello and put it in small clear plastic cups. When it was semi thick, we added goldfish shaped cookies, or fish shaped gummy candies, or star shapes - anything that worked with the theme that they could eat. It was so much fun.
Then there was "dirt" pudding which you make by layering pudding with crushed oreos. We also added gummy worms for that decorative touch.
Hey, I had a lot of asian kids in my groups. Presentation is everything.
We did have moms take the time to show us how to make rice cakes, moon cake, sushi, dim sum dumplings....but that was way too complicated for me. So sometimes they stopped by on lunch or an afternoon off and did the project with the kids themselves.
Funny thing with a multi cultural group of kids - the Korean mom brought vegetarian sushi. None of the kids wanted it. That was fine with the girl who brought it, more for her. The Chinese kid tapped her on the shoulder while she was eating. As he pulled the rice from the seaweed wrapping he very sweetly said "Thanks for sharing. I like the rice, but not this other yucky stuff!"

You can have a lot of fun when little kids are cooking, just keep it simple.

[cocotbo]

So I'm in the grocery store the other day...

My son loves cheese and I try to mix it up a little for him since mozzarella strings can get a little monotonous. I saw a package of Cheddar & Monterey Jack shapes. (I think they were stars & moons.) When I looked at the price, the cheapo in me kicked in and I thought "I can buy a brick of cheese, slice it and then use cookie cutters to make shapes."

Here is another simple idea:
It was snacktime for Teddy and I had some yogurt and apple slices for him. He insisted on dipping the apple slices into his yogurt. Well, duh! I guess that could make an apple a whole lot more appealing to a kid, couldn't it?

[cocotbo]

Here's a thought for when you want to jazz up snacktime for the kids:
Slice a banana into 1/2 inch slices and slice fresh strawberries the same way.
Place one pineapple ring on a small plate.
Skewer banana & strawberry slices alternately on toothpicks and anchor each toothpick on the pineapple ring, creating a circle of little kebabs.
Serve with a small bowl/cup of fruit yogurt for dipping.

[craftymom]

The hot dog octopus is cute! You can also slice hotdogs all the way through lengthwise before boiling to make worms.

Another cute snack is to spread peanut butter on bread or crackers and let kids put cereal on it in neat designs. Or you could use ABC cereal and make words.

[beannie842002]

Smiley Apples is a really great recipe for kids.

[beannie842002]

This is really great recipe for your kids to help you make. You cut the apple up and they can do the rest.
Smiley Apple
1 red apple
8 teaspoons creamy peanut butter
16 miniature marshmallows
1)Cut apple into quarters. Remove core, cut each quarter into 4 slices. Spread 1/2 teaspoon peanut butter on one side of each slice.
2)With kitchen scissors, cut each marshmallow in half lengthwise. Place 4 marshmallow halves over peanut butter on 8 apple slices, extending slightly over peel of slice, for teeth.
3)Top each with remaining apple slice, peanut butter side down, to make smiling teeth.