Fruit's more appetizing when served on a stick

Dennis proves yet again that food on a stick is infinitely more delicious than regular food.

Our son would not eat much fruit.  Apple slices usually would end up thrown across the room.  So, we decided to peel an apple, put it on a stick, and let him eat it like a lollypop.  Now, he eats the entire apple, not just a few slices.  It's the perfect treat for him, and it's healthy, too!

Just keep a close eye on him...apple pieces can be chokable, especially if he gets down to the core.

Tags: Feeding kids, Parenting

Comments

[The Mentor Mom]

That is so true! My kids will eat all sorts of thing that they normally wouldn't touch if I give them a toothpick to poke it with :)

[Marykz]

Low-fat ranch dressing is the only reason my daughter will eat certain vegetables. If she can dip it, she will eat it! I even buy single serving paks of the dressing to put in the lunchbox with a bag of carrot sticks, or cucumber slices, or celery. (I tried using little tupperware containers for the dip, but the way those lunchboxes get tossed around, the dip ended up a mess!)

[hedra]

Also watch for toddler diarrhea. Apples (as well as pears, peaches, and cherries) are high in sorbitol, which can't be digested, and apples are also high in fructose. We don't develop a lot of the enzymes to digest fructose until 3 years of age or so.

One good sized apple is a whole day's serving of fruit for a toddler, all at once.

(Speaking as a mom with two kids who have difficulty with fructose... you'd think fruit would be GREAT, but as with all foods for children, moderation is key! A juice box, fruit-juice-sweetened cookies, some bread with high fructose corn syrup, a handful of raisins, and an apple, and you've met the requirement for about a week in one day! Think half-cup servings, and toddlers/small children only need two-three servings a day...)

[hedra]

To go back to the 'how to' hack side, try slicing the apples the other way - a circle with a star in the middle is sometimes more appealing than the wedge thing.

[jim]

Hedra,

I am glad you mentioned that.

My wife taught me to slice apples (and other fruit) up into thing slices (like chips).

They are very easy to handle.

They reduce the choking possibility.

AND...

They are really fun to eat that way!

[STL Mom]

My son went through a stage where he would only eat apples that he had peeled and sliced himself (using one of those nifty countertop gadgets that spin the apple around.) Then he would only eat whole, unpeeled apples (and he would spit out the peel as he ate.) Now he only eats apple wedges. If he tires of wedges, now I can try round slices or chips.
My daughter (6) will only eat carrots in her lunchbox if I skewer carrot pieces on toothpicks. The same pieces in a cup go uneaten.
Presentation really is important!

[STL Mom]

My son went through a stage where he would only eat apples that he had peeled and sliced himself (using one of those nifty countertop gadgets that spin the apple around.) Then he would only eat whole, unpeeled apples (and he would spit out the peel as he ate.) Now he only eats apple wedges. If he tires of wedges, now I can try round slices or chips.
My daughter (6) will only eat carrots in her lunchbox if I skewer carrot pieces on toothpicks. The same pieces in a cup go uneaten.
Presentation really is important!

[Jill]

My family had a "salad party" (named by my 5yo) once with all sorts of veggies, dip, and toothpicks. Amazing what they ate.

Oooh, apples sliced into stars!

[Stu Mark]

That is so *GENIUS*

My kids are too old (*sigh*) for that, but a few years ago, that would have been just the ticket for quite a number of nutritional nuggets!

Hack Of The Week!!

[rosemary]

Hendra - Your comment made me think that my 2 year old must be the opposite of your kids. He is actually the opposite of most toddlers with his food choices. All he eats is fresh fruit, fresh veggies, and starches. In one day, he eats more fruit than anyone I know, and he has no problems with digestion (except for the raisins, those are bad). Perhaps I could use this hack to serve my son some meatballs on a stick.

[Jennifer]

My kids enjoy eating their apples off their fingers as apple "rings" - I take out the core, cut them into slices, and present them with their own edible jewelry. Last week, my daughter put an apple ring around a grape, and ate Saturn. I love their imaginations!

[brigitte]

try fresh apricot kabobs...

http://www.e-nterests.com/community/forum/382.0_fresh_apricot_fruit_kabobs.php