Today we experimented with the idea of fruit and cheese kebabs (which I really, really want to spell as “kabob,” despite Spell Check’s insistence that I shouldn’t).  We made a trip to the produce section of the grocery store and walked out with strawberries, grapes, and apples.  Then to the dairy case for a couple of kinds of cheese.  We went with cheddar and mozzarella because I have some other recipes in mind that use those two types.

What you need to make fruit and cheese kebabs:

• One or two cheeses
• Different types of fruit
• Skewers
• Small cookie cutters

A little fruit, a little cheese, and a couple of skewers!

We used small cookie cutters to make our cheese and apples into fun star shapes.

Cut your fruit and cheese into bite-sized pieces that kids can help put on the kebabs.

Alternate fruit and cheese on your skewer for healthy fruit kebabs that kids love to eat.

What I Learned the Hard Way:  Your kid may be way more interested in just eating the fruit and cheese as you’re busy trying to make it look pretty.  This is a good thing, though.  It means she was actually enjoying a healthy snack!

This homemade smoothie recipe is healthy and totally kid-approved.

When it comes to getting kids to eat healthfully, it’s not always easy.  Dot and I got to experimenting a while back and ended up making some awesome soothies.  She likes them so much that we went through quite an experience one night when she kept asking for “foovies,” and we had no idea what she was saying.  Now the whole family calls them foovies, and we have them all the time.

Related Pages: Non-Alcoholic Drink Recipes for Kids,Watermelon Recipes

There are tons of ways to make smoothies, but we like our version, and it’s even pretty healthy:

• 3/4 cup yogurt (we like fruit or vanilla)
• 3/4 cup frozen berries or fruit
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1/2 banana

Everything in this yummy smoothie recipe is pretty healthy.

Blend the smoothie ingredients until...well...smooth.

I just recently tried freezing some of the smoothies in these popsicle molds I got from Tupperware, and they are a HUGE hit.

Smoothie popsicles are awesome!

Serves 3-4 people, prep time less than 20 minutes.

Healthy Recipes for Kids: Pasta Birds Nests

Healthy Pasta Birds Nests for Kids Ingredients

1/2 stick butter, softened

1 tsp garlic paste or one crushed clove of garlic

1 tsp basil

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp onion salt

12 oz package of spinach fettuccine noodles (or other long noodles that are either green or brown, like whole wheat noodles)

1 container of cherry tomatoes

1 package of pre-made puff pastry or can of Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations (basically unscored cresent roll dough)

You will also need a bird cookie cutter

How to Make Healthy Pasta Birds Nests for Kids

Combine the butter, garlic, basil, oregano and onion salt together, and stir into a garlic butter paste (yum.)

Next, roll out your puff pastry or crescent roll dough and cut out as many birds as you can fit (with my cookie cutter and the Pillsbury dough, I got 10 birds out of it). Place them on an ungreased nonstick cookie sheet. Spread the garlic butter on the top of the birds as shown. You won’t use all of the garlic butter, save the rest for the pasta.

Bake the birds according to the bread package directions. Check them early, as I baked mine for about 11 minutes and the package called for 13 minutes. The smaller your birds, the less time they need to bake.

Cook the spinach fettuccine according to the package directions. Drain and toss with the remaining garlic butter and salt to taste.

Place the noodles onto your plate and spread out the noodles a bit to make a well in the center. Place your cherry tomatoes and baked garlic bread birds into the “nests” and enjoy!

You may like our cute cupcake ideas, too!

Related Pages: Healthy Pasta Recipe for Kids, Applesauce Recipe for Kids, Watermelon Salsa Recipe

Chili Mac Recipe Kids Will Love

Chili Mac Ingredients

This recipe makes a big batch with plenty of leftovers for freezing. A half recipe will easily feed a family of 6.

Brown the ground turkey or beef and drain off the fat.

Add the chopped peppers, celery and onion and sauté until just-soft.

Pour into large stock pot and add the cans of tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and black beans. Stir.

Add the seasonings – cumin, taco sauce, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano and onion salt. Stir and simmer for 15 minutes.

Cook pasta separately according to the package directions. Drain, do not rinse, and add to the large stock pot, stirring thoroughly.

Serve with shredded cheese and cornbread… yummm…  Actually, it’s so filling you may not even need the cornbread!

More Recipes Kids Will Love

Homemade Sports Drink Mix

Homemade Microwave Popcorn

Red Hot Applesauce Recipe

Slow Cooked Pulled Pork Sandwiches

But man (and child) cannot live on berries alone – though my kids would if they could! So here’s a roundup of really easy summer recipes both you and your kids will love. These would be perfect for summer BBQs, summer party food, or just take a rainy afternoon and make them with your kids!

Related Pages: Watermelon Recipes, Summer Party Games, Ice Cream Party Games

Summer Fruit Recipes

Easy Kids Lunch Ideas

Smoothie Recipes

Summer Dessert Recipes

Check out all of our summer kids crafts while you are here, too!

Healthy Halloween Skeleton Sandwiches	Pumpkin Fruit Cup Treats	Caramel Apple Pizza	Whole Wheat Bat Cookies Recipe
Watermelon Brains Halloween Fruit Treat	Jack O Lantern Fruit Kebabs	Veggie Skeleton Halloween Snacks	Devilish Deviled Egg Monsters
Monsters on a Stick	Tombstone Halloween Party Sandwiches	Monster Eyes Meatball Sandwich	Pumpkin Seed Popcorn Ball Treats
Salty Bone Breadsticks	Spooky Spider Bread Rolls	Pumpkin Pancake Recipe	Strawberry Ghosts Halloween Treats

Have lots more Halloween fun with our printable Halloween masks, pumpkin carving patterns, printable Halloween games, and Halloween coloring pages!

When cooking with peanut butter, I recommend using an all-natural variety so that you can limit the added sugars and fats. I used to have the hardest time finding natural peanut butter, but these days most grocery stores carry several brands. Santa Cruz Organics sent me some samples over the summer that would be perfect (if only they were still around in my house – my hubby is a peanut butter freak!).

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars	Warm PB & J Dip	Peanut Butter and Jelly Shortbread Wedges	Peanut Butter and Jelly Parfait
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sushi Lunchbox Rolls	Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprint Cookies	Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins	Peanut Butter and Jelly Cake Recipe

Peanut Butter and Honey Recipes

Honey Cinnamon Peanut Dip	Honey Peanut Balls	Honey Peanut Butter Cookies	Peanut Butter and Honey Fudge

Peanut Butter and Banana Recipes

Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie	Peanut Banana Bread Pudding	Peanut Banana Lunchbox Rolls	Peanut Butter and Banana Crepes

For more back to school fun, check out 10 awesome kids lunch boxes, back to school review worksheets or all of the content on the newest Woo! Jr. Network site at Classroom Jr.!