One of the biggest challenges for parents is trying to find a way to make their kids pick healthy options when it comes to dessert. Most kids, when given the chance, will chose sugary and high-calorie options like cakes and ice cream, or go for processed junk food. In fact, if a child develops a taste for sugary and caloric dessert options from a young age, it can be difficult for parents to guide them towards healthier options in the future. This is why it’s important to teach a child how to make good food choices as early as possible.
Fruits are a great dessert option for kids. Since they can eaten raw or prepared into another kind of dessert, parents are only limited by their creativity when it comes to introducing kids to fruits.
Why Fruits Are A Great Dessert Option
Here are three reasons why fruits should be your first pick as an after-meal dessert.
- Easy to prepare
As a busy parent, it’s not always possible to have the time to prepare an additional dessert to accompany every meal. That’s why many parents fall into the trap of giving their kids processed or ready-made desserts such as store-bought cookies or ice cream.
However, fruits are just as easy to prepare as any sugary dessert! For the most part, you simply have to wash them, but even for fruits that you have to prepare like watermelons or melons, cutting them up into manageable slices will only take a few minutes.
You can even include your child during the prep so that they can also develop an appreciation for their food. Children are more likely to accept and eat unfamiliar food if they have a hand in prepping the meal.
- Naturally sweet and packed with vitamins and minerals
Fruits are a great way to satisfy a child’s sweet tooth while still being a healthy treat. When you choose fruits that are in season, they are sweet, delicious, and full of flavor. What’s more, fruits are loaded with nutrients! A single orange is enough to provide all of your child’s daily recommended dose of vitamin C, while bananas are full of potassium and vitamin B6.
- Portable/Easy to Pack
If you’re going out with your child, fruits make for a quick and easy snack on the go! Whether you’re packing an apple or putting grapes in a container, your kid can easily grab a bite whenever they want.
Dessert Pizza Recipe
If you’re having a hard time introducing fruit to your kids, incorporating them into a familiar food can work wonders. Here’s an easy recipe for fruit pizza that you can prepare ahead then store in the fridge so that your kids can get a slice anytime they have a sweet craving.
INGREDIENTS:
GRAHAM CRUST
- 3 cups crushed graham crackers
- ½ cup melted butter
- 1 tsp. salt
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
- 1 pack cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
FRUIT TOPPINGS (Note: these are only a suggestion, you can put any fruits you want except for fruits that are high in moisture as this can cause the graham crust to become soggy.)
5 strawberries, sliced
5 kiwis, sliced
1 mango, sliced
¼ cup blueberries, halved
½ cup seedless grapes, halved
DIRECTIONS:
- Make the crust: In a large bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and salt. Mix thoroughly until well-combined. Transfer mixed crumbs into an 8-inch baking pan and press down firmly until crust forms an even layer on the bottom.
- Place the prepared crust into your freezer and freeze for 30 minutes.
- Make the cream cheese frosting: In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Using a hand mixer or a whisk, mix well until creamy and smooth.
- Remove the frozen crust from the freezer and spread the cream cheese frosting on top in a thin and even layer.
- Place sliced fruits on top as desired and return to fridge to chill.
- Serve cold!
Conclusion
There you have it, an amazing and easy fruit pizza dessert that your kids will surely love! You can ask your kids to help you with making the dessert since there is no actual baking involved, so even small children can chip in. From this recipe, you can move on to more complicated recipes such as pies or cakes.
Want to know the best measuring cup set for baking? Check out Bella Cupcake Couture.
LifeAsMama
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