Q: As a parent trying to prepare healthy food & snacks for my kids, it's so hard to compete with all those prepackaged goodies with all the fun characters! Do your readers have any way to package healthy snacks (bags of crackers, carrots, healthy cookies) at home in a way that make them look appealing to toddlers? I've seen those little party toppers for goody bags, but I have no computer skills. I would love to find some free downloadable options.
Sent by Carrie B.
Editor: I can't recall coming across anything like this in my internet travels - readers, have you? Ideas for Carrie?
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(Image: Twig & Thistle/Sweet Fruit Stickers for Valentine's Day)
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I know my toddler is crazy for stickers. I pick up some whenever I'm at Target/craft store/wherever and use them for art projects, rewards, etc. I'm sure she'd be thrilled to find some in her lunch. It's a good idea--I'd do it myself, but we use all reusable packaging (cloth lunch bag, tupperware for food, etc.), so I'm not sure how I'd incorporate it.
A lot of bento box recipe books/websites/YouTube videos have great ideas for making healthy food appealing to kids. For example, you can get vegetable cutters in fun shapes like flowers, stars, and clouds from Kotobuki on Amazon. Good luck!
I second the bento lunch idea! I see a noticeable difference in how much my preschooler eats of her healthy lunch options when they are cut into fun shapes or speared on party picks. My favorite website for ideas is http://www.anotherlunch.com/ and there are tons more out there.
I make reusable fabric snack bags for all the snackers in my house. I use fun fabrics, lined with rip-stop nylon (which is food safe and water resistant). My toddler loves to open and close the velcro himself and even his big brother likes showing off his pirate printed bag to his friends. Best part, no plastic bags in the trash!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/justasquidge
this is a cute idea for younger kids... http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/inspiration/add-eyes-for-a-little-lunch-box-laughter-126018
My kids will eat nearly anything if it's served in a a small snack bag. I've started decorating bags with stickers and stamps. Here are some additional ideas:
http://warmhotchocolate.com/2011/04/06/snack-bags/
Bento-and-other-things blogger Wendy at wendolonia.com has some downloadable sticker templates that she made for canning jars. Very similar to the sticker in the apple in the image above. Check her out, maybe they may work for you. I believe you can edit them, also.