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Fruit and Veggie Bugs are the perfect cute and healthy snack! Stop buying processed foods and sugary desserts – and let the kids have fun creating and eating their food!
Even though we’re always telling the kids that they shouldn’t play with their food, it’s hard to think that way with this healthy recipe. And what is it about animal-shaped foods that make them look so fun?
Even though they’re cute and delicious, the kids are going to want to play with their food a bit on these – and I think that’s great! Creating together in the kitchen is a really simple way for the kids to get cooking confidence as well as creative confidence also.
They will also work on their fine motor skills by picking up and adding all the different ingredients to make them. That’s great for them to help and make on their own!
Ingredients to make Fruit and Veggie Bugs
- Grape and cherry tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Peppers
- Celery
- Googly eyes
- Cucumbers
- Mini chocolate chips
- Chives
- Yogurt dip or cream cheese
- Nuts
How to make Veggie and Fruit Bugs
The first thing that you want to make sure of is that you clean all the fruit and wash all the veggies. Prep by cutting off any bad spots and washing away any dirt and grime.
Once that is done, you can start assembling your fruit and veggie bugs!
Use the celery as the base and fill it with yogurt or peanut butter. From there, you can add blueberries for the back, strawberries as the wings, cucumber slices, or tomatoes as the shells, and don’t forget to add googly eyes or chocolate chips to the tomatoes or grapes as the eyes.
Decorate each celery piece with a new ensemble and have fun showing the kids that food can be fun and delicious.
Are these safe for kids of all ages?
Make sure that you’re feeding these snacks to kids that are old enough to chew carefully. Even though our kids are older, I’m always reminding them that they shouldn’t be joking around or laughing while eating.
The grapes and cherry tomatoes need to be eaten carefully because they’re foods to easily choke on. Please slice them in half for little kids usually under age 6 if you’re worried. Also, be aware of taking these anywhere for snack time due to the added peanut butter.
As with any food and eating activities, be with the kids for supervision. That way, if something is needed or happens, you or another adult is there to assist.
Variations
Use different fruits and vegetables – You can easily use different types of fruits and veggies for this recipe. Whatever the kids (and you!) will eat, you can easily use it.
Pineapple chunks, apple slices, sugar snap peas, and even slices of radish could be great options.
Use different nut butter – You can also use almond butter, cashew butter, or even hazelnut instead of peanut butter.
Use various savory spreads like ranch dip, salsa, guacamole or hummus for a change in flavor and for added nutrition.
When should you serve healthy snacks?
The great thing about healthy veggie snacks like this is that they’re perfect for serving all the time. If the kids like to eat when they come home from school, this is a great option to have ready for them.
You can also put these in lunch boxes or have them as a fun classroom snack idea. If you want to teach a lesson to the kids on creating food ideas, this would be a great one to use!
I also love the idea of having these as snacks for birthday parties and baby showers, too. They’re cute and festive and full of goodness!
Can I prep these ahead of time?
You can! Since you’re using fresh fruit and vegetables, you can easily prep these ahead of time. All you have to do is wash and have everything ready to use so that when the time comes, you can quickly assemble it.
Even just washing and cutting up the fruit and veggies the day before can be a great way to save time when you’re ready to start actually putting them together.
Can I use frozen fruit?
For this type of recipe, fresh fruit works best. This is because as frozen fruit thaws, it releases a ton of liquid and doesn’t do a good job of holding on to its shape.
Fresh fruit just has a firmer texture and doesn’t release as much liquid. The same logic and rules apply to using frozen veggies as well.
Fresh veggies are a better option than frozen ones because the frozen ones will have a not-firm texture once they thaw.
How do I choose ripe fruit?
Ripe fruit means that this will provide sweetness to the dish! To choose ripe blueberries, pay attention to the coloring. The darker the blueberries, the riper they should be. They shouldn’t be wrinkly either, as that indicates that they are actually too ripe.
For strawberries, the coloring and the smell of them are your indicators. Ripe fresh strawberries have a very lovely sweet smell that radiates off them.
Grapes don’t really have a scent when they are ripe, but you should be able to tell just by looking at them. They should be nice and plump, firm to the touch, and not wrinkly.
To pick good veggies, find ones that aren’t mushy and are bright in the color that they should be. Celery and cucumbers should be a nice, bright green coloring, while tomatoes should be a bright red color.
How do I store leftovers?
The best way to store leftovers of this snack is to add them to an airtight container with a lid. As long as you keep the air away and out of the container, they should stay good to enjoy for 1-2 days after making them.
These do need to be stored in the fridge for the best flavor and results. This is especially true if you are using yogurt or any other dairy-based ingredients.
Fruit and Veggie Bugs
Have fun making these snacks for kids! They’re a great way to add nutrition to their snack time easily!
Fruit and Veggie Bugs
Ingredients
- Grape and cherry tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Peppers
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Googly Eyes
- Chives
- Yogurt dip or cream cheese
- Mini Chocolate Chips
- Various nuts
Instructions
- The first thing that you want to make sure of is that you clean all the fruit and wash all the veggies. Prep by cutting off any bad spots and washing away any dirt and grime.
- Once that is done, you can start assembling your fruit and veggie bugs!
- Use the celery as the base and fill it with yogurt, cream cheese or peanut butter. From there, you can add blueberries for the back, strawberries as the wings, cucumber slices, or tomatoes as the shells, and don't forget to add googly eyes or chocolate chips to the tomatoes or grapes as the eyes. You can also use one nut (e.g. a peanut or cashew) as the "head" for a smaller bug.
- Decorate each celery piece with a new ensemble and have fun showing the kids that food can be fun and delicious.
Video
Agnes Hsu is a mom of three and has been inspiring parents and kids to get creative with easy activities and family friendly recipes for over 10 years. She shares her love for creative play and kids food to her 2MM+ followers online. Agnes' commitment to playful learning and kindness has not only raised funds for charity but also earned features in prestigious nationwide publications.