A Healthy Treat Your Child Will Love

When my daughter started preschool, as silly as it sounds, one of the things I looked forward to most was being able to make cupcakes for her class. I mean, I started making plans for all the glorious creations I was going to make for my child when I was a child. I’m not kidding. When I was in school and a classmates mom’s brought cupcakes for their birthday, I’d fantasize about the treats I’d make my future child on their special day. Seriously.

Well, it turns out times have changed, and apparently preschool teachers aren’t crazy about spending their afternoons trying to calm a classroom full of children all bouncing off the walls when the sugar rush kicks in. And, as a mom, as much as I love making these treats for Allison and her classmates, I don’t like the idea of her eating cake two to three times a week when multiple children are celebrating birthdays.  Her class celebrated birthdays once a month, and if a parent wanted to bring something special on their child’s big day, it needed to be something healthy.

So, I got to thinking. How can I make something the kids will get excited about, but is also good for them? Let’s face it, though they might like fruit, no child wakes up excited because their mom is bringing a bowl full of melon balls to school.

Then, I swear, it came to me in a dream. Allison was Star of the Week in her class, and the teacher told me I could bring a special treat to celebrate, but it had to be healthy. I literally dreamt about this, and when I woke up, immediately wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget. I tried it that night, and it was awesome. Allison was thrilled when I told her I’d be bringing fruit pops to celebrate her achievement!

A fruit pop is nothing more than fruit on a skewer.  It’s the top piece that makes it special though. I pulled out my beloved fondant cutters and got to work.

FRUIT POPS

Slice melons (cantaloupe and honeydew work best. Watermelon is great for the inside, but not do great for the actual shape) 1/4 inch thick.

Use fondant cutters to cut shapes such as stars, hearts or circles

In the middle of each shape, cut a smaller shape (in my case, letters) and remove the smaller, cut shape.

Using the same, smaller cutter, cut the same shape out of a different, contrasting colored melon (in my case, watermelon)  and carefuly insert that piece into the empty space you just created in the larger piece.

Once you are done creating all your toppers, thread various fruit that is sturdy enough to be skewered (strawberries, blackberries, grapes, pineapple chuncks, melon balls, etc..) onto a skewer, then CAREFULLY add your final topper.

As you will see from the photo, I went a little nuts on this particular occasion. However, you can make one or two for your child’s lunch box quickly and easily. Get a set of heart shaped fondant cutters a put a small heart inside a big heart. It takes just a few minutes, and you can tell your child you packed their lunch with a little extra love inside.

Have fun and be creative! If you try this, I’d love to know what you created! Email me at oneupskimom@gmail .com.