Kids are more prone to eat visually appealing foods. That’s because taste as a sense is also made up of touch, smell, and sight. Constructing foods to mimic shapes and images kids are familiar with, like a simple flower, will draw their attention – and taste buds – to an otherwise mundane snack. An artful display of this fruit flower skewer will naturally tempt kids to eat their daily fruit servings. No buzzing reminders needed. Plus it’s a fun craft. Try constructing it with your child for an afternoon snack and craft all in one.

You’ll Need:

- 1 Watermelon

- 1 Cantaloupe

- A Handful of Green Grapes

- Skewers

- Scissors

- 1 Dry Floral Foam

- Flower Cookie Cutter (3 inch shown)

- Small Circle Cookie Cutter (1 inch shown)

Step 1: Slice watermelon and cantaloupes.

Adult task: After washing all fruit, cut watermelon and cantaloupes into ¾ inch thick round slices. Set aside grapes.

Tip: avoid choosing overly ripe fruit.

Step 2: Cut Out Watermelon Flowers.

Kid Task: Using a metal flower cookie cutter, press into the watermelon. Next, place either a ¾ or 1 inch round cookie cutter in center of flower and cut out the center. Now you have your watermelon fruit cut out.

Step 3: Cut Out Cantaloupe Centers.

Kid Task: Using the same round cookie cutter, cut out cantaloupe circles. Insert cantaloupe circles into the center of watermelon flowers. Feel free to interchange fruits for a cantaloupe flower with a watermelon center, or use different fruits altogether like a pineapple or honeydew melon. Just avoid high fibrous fruit, which don’t hold their shape well.

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Step 4: Cut Skewers with Scissors.

Adult Task: Cut the pointy tips off skewers. Make two or three of the skewers 1-2 inches shorter. This will make for better displaying. The blunt edge will prevent your child from puncturing his finger and mouth while making the flower and eating the fruit.

Step 5: Thread Fruit onto Skewers.

Kid Task: With the help of an adult, slide on the first green grape at an angle, creating a leaf. Feel free to insert another grape on top of the first grape at a different angle. Insert blunted skewer into both the fruit flower and round center. Be careful not to push skewer all the way through the top of the flower. Make as many fruit skewers as you’d like.

Step 6: Insert Skewers Into Dry Foam.

Kid Task: Insert the longer skewers in the back and shorter fruit skewers in the front of the rectangular dry floral foam.

Voila! Display your edible fruit arrangement in an easy-to-grab location for a healthy treat the whole family can enjoy!