Apples for Healthy Eating
Apples are widely known as a healthy food for people on just about any health regime, including kids. The challenge with kids is that even though they might know it is good for them, it does not mean that they will eat them. If you try a few creative ideas for incorporating apple snacks into their day, you will probably find they actually love eating apples, especially when they can make the snacks themselves.
Applesauce
Cut and core two apples and place in a saucepan with about 1/4 cup of water. Cover it tightly and cook on high for about 15 minutes or until the apple is soft. Pour the mixture into a blender and blend on high until everything is pureed. Add a little honey and cinnamon to taste. Chill and serve in small snack containers. Have an adult supervise the cooking and blending.
Apple Wedges
A popular kitchen tool for children is the apple corer/wedge cutter. It is a round sharp tool you simply place on top of an apple on a sound surface and push down. The result is an apple perfectly cut in wedges with the core removed. Keep it on the counter with the bowl of apples and your kids will love cutting their own snack. They can dip the wedges in honey, peanut butter, melted cheese or chocolate sauce.
Dried Apples
You can easily dry your own apples without any preservatives. Cut an apple into quarters and remove the core. Slice across the quarters so that each slice is about 1/4 inch thick. Dip them into a bowl of lemonade. Spread out on a metal rack and set into a warm oven (180 degrees) for two or three hours. Turn off the oven and let them cool. Store the apples in snack baggies for easy snacking.
Baked Apples
Place a cored apple in a buttered ramekin. Add 1 teaspoon of butter, 1 teaspoon of brown sugar and a 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon into the center hole. Bake at 350 degrees (with adult supervision for younger children) for about 45 minutes or until the apple has wilted. Cool for at least 10 minutes.
Apple Kabobs
Core and quarter an apple. Cut the wedges into cubes. Slice some cheddar or Monterey jack cheese into similarly sized cubes. Skewer the apples and cheese alternately on toothpicks, adding a raisin or blueberry for contrast between the sections. If packing for a school lunch, dip the apples into a little lemonade first to keep them from turning brown.
Apple Crackers
Slice a cored and quartered apple into 1/4 inch slices and fan out on a plate. Place a little dab of peanut butter on top of each slice and then top with a grape. Serve immediately.
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