(Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Refined Sugar-free)

This is a wonderful summery snack that will help entice your kids to eat more fruit. My kids are CRAZY for it, and never leave a bite. We had a lot of fun taste-testing, and sampled a wide variety of vanilla yogurts. Our personal favorites are Brown Cow Vanilla Bean, or Whole Soy & Co. Vanilla. Use a broad spectrum of colorful fresh produce in your medley to cover your bases for phytonutrients (flavonoids, carotenoids - you know, all those plant derived compounds that are the backbone of a healthy diet). I've chosen fruits that are easy to make into perfect little mouthfuls, but you can use whatever fruits your children are particularly fond of. For this strategy I broke out—drum roll please—toothpicks! Kids love skewering the fruit.

Ingredients
1/2 cup low fat vanilla yogurt (6 oz. container) (try Brown Cow Vanilla Bean, or Whole Soy & Co. Vanilla if you prefer soy)

1/2 cup organic ricotta cheese (try Organic Valley, their whole milk ricotta is as low in saturated fat and cholesterol as other leading brands' low fat offerings, but creamier and organic)

1 Tbsp. honey

1/8 tsp. lemon zest (use an organic lemon for this to avoid eating pesticide residue)

1 peach, cut into 1/2 inch chunks

1 apple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2 inch chunks

1/2 cup melon (watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, etc.) cut into 1/2 inch chunks

1/2 cup strawberries (cut in half if they're large)

1/2 cup red grapes (you may wish to cut grapes in half for smaller children)

Preparation
Combine yogurt, ricotta, honey, and lemon zest in a bowl. Stir until smooth. Set dip in the center of a platter and surround with fruit. Hand out the toothpicks, and watch it disappear!

Makes about 4 servings.

More Fun Food Fixes for Your Kids:

• Monte's Mango Madness
• Soft Chicken Taquitos
• Butternut Mini Muffins
  
• Tomato Basil Hummus
  
• Ribbon Sandwiches
  
• Sunflower Fruit Balls
• Fig Newton Lollipops

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