It makes snack time exciting when you get creative with foods – especially when you’re trying to improve the types of snacks that you children are eating! You will be surprised how broad kid’s palettes can become with just a little effort. Often they’re stuck in an unhealthy rut because they’ve  been allowed to make the decision to do so.

This twist on PB&J Skewers is a healthful and fun snack.

Ingredients:

• 2 Slices sandwich bread
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 6 Strawberries, hulled
• 1 banana

To make these skewers you will need three narrow straws and a small geometric cookie cutter.

Using the cookie cutter, cut six shapes out of the bread slices, avoiding the crust for easy cutting and a uniform look. Cut three round slices from the banana. To thread straws with berries, banana and bread, start with stacking the bread (smeared with peanut butter on one side) with a slice of banana in the middle. If it’s difficult to thread this mini sandwich on a straw, use a bamboo skewer first to pierce a guiding hole in the center then position it at center of straw. Spread a dollop of peanut butter on the hulled end of a strawberry and thread it onto one end of the straw (peanut-butter end first), pushing it toward the center so that the peanut butter helps to adhere it to the sandwich. Repeat on other end with remaining strawberry and repeat with each skewer.

Yummy!

This is a great snack for young athletes to have before to provide a good energy source and after to refuel.

(Modified from this Driscoll’s recipe)