About the Author: As a Registered Dietitian and Manager of Clinical and Culinary Nutrition for the Home Base Program, Nicolette provides both individual and group nutrition counseling to veterans and their families. Her primary responsibilities include serving those in the Home Base Intensive Clinical Program, New England Warrior Health & Fitness Program, and Outpatient Clinic. 

Celery Critters

These critters are a fun twist on traditional “ants on a log”, using slices of fruit and cashews to create snails and caterpillars.  Younger kids will have fun building the critters, and older kids can help slice up the ingredients with supervision. 

INGREDIENTS

SNAILS

2-4 celery stalks
½ cup of nut butter or cream cheese
For decoration: sliced apple, orange, kiwi, cucumber, or grape tomatoes
Cashews (substitute grapes/grape tomatoes/blueberries for allergies)

CATERPILLARS                                                                                          

2-4 celery stalks
Small, matchstick size slices of celery for antennae
½ cup of nut butter or cream cheese
For decoration: Grape tomatoes., Blueberries, and Grapes

DIRECTIONS

To Make the Snails:

1. Wash and slice celery stalks into 3-4 inch pieces. Dry the celery pieces of excess water to help filling stay in place.
2. Using a spoon, fill celery stalks with peanut butter or cream cheese
3. Top with an apple, orange, kiwi, cucumber or tomato slice shell and a cashew head.
4. Use peanut butter or cream cheese to glue on candy eyes.

To Make the Caterpillars:

1. Fill celery stalks with peanut butter or cream cheese
2. Top with grapes, blueberries or grape tomatoes for the body and head.
3. Use peanut butter or cream cheese to glue on candy eyes and celery or radish matchstick for antennae.

---

Festive Veggie Plate

Your family won’t carrot-all this plate is full of vegetables. In fact, the festive formation of these bite size carrot pieces and broccoli crowns make it all the more fun for kids to eat their veggies! Pair this plate with various dips like plain Greek yogurt, hummus, or salad dressing, and let the festive snacking begin. 

INGREDIENTS

2-3 large carrots
1 medium head of broccoli
Optional: Dipping sauce like plain Greek yogurt, hummus, or salad dressing

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash and peel carrots, then slice into ½ inch pieces.
2. Wash and cut broccoli into bite size pieces.
3. Arrange carrot slices in a shingle pattern in the shape of a carrot, with larger pieces at the top and smaller pieces at the bottom. Arrange the broccoli pieces at the top of the carrot to look like leaves.

---

Lemon Dip and Fruit Shapes

This 3-ingredient dip is simple to make with the family! If you have cookie cutters on hand, use them to make cute shapes in watermelon, pineapple, or other thick slices of fruit. 

INGREDIENTS

Lemon Dip
5 oz Greek yogurt, plain or vanilla
1 box instant lemon pudding mix
8 oz whipped topping

Fruit
Optional: If you have cookie cutters, cut the fruit into 1 ½ inch thick slices, and press the cutters into the fruit for fun shapes

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and stir until mixed.
2. Cover and chill for 10-15 minutes and serve.

We hope these recipes inspire you and your little ones to get creative in the kitchen together, creating delicious and nutritious snacks perfect for the whole family! If you have additional questions about healthy snacks, please submit a question to our team here.