Celery with Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing

Have you ever had this experience? Hand a group of kids a bowl of celery sticks and they pay no mind. But hand them a bowl of celery with chunky blue cheese dressing, ranch dressing, whipped cheese or peanut butter and the veggies disappear. Kids love to take their vegetables (and other foods like chicken strips, fruit kabobs, and meatballs) out for a dip. Fresh raw veggies make a quick, easy, and oh-so-healthy after-school snack, side dish, or appetizer while you're waiting for dinner to cook. They're also super fun during the summer when you can either pick fresh cherry tomatoes or cucumbers out of your own garden or go to the farmer's market with your kids to pick out crunchy, tasty veggies straight from the farm. A platter of carrot and celery sticks, cucumber slices, broccoli and cauliflower florets, and sugar snap peas with a fun dip or two is a great way to up your family's veggie intake. Individual-sized plastic containers of cut veggies in the fridge make for fantastic grab-n-go snacks.

Here are a few of our favorite dips for vegetables: Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing (recipe below) Light ranch dressing, Annie's Goddess dressing, or Caesar dressing Hummus Baba gannoush (a roasted eggplant spread) Black bean dip Guacamole Salsa Peanut or almond butter Whipped or light cream cheese Boursin cheese Olive tapenade I also like to liven up our crisp vegetables by sprinkling them with kosher salt or sea salt or drizzling them with fresh lime juice and cayenne pepper or paprika. If your kids are committed dippers, they may also want to sample these recipes: 

Brown Sugar Fruit Dip from Dine and Dish

Homemade Sushi Rolls

Baked French Fries

Soft Pretzels

What are you kids' favorite foods to dip, or their favorite dips to go with cut vegetables? Please share below with other Kitchen Explorers!