Skip to main content

Rev Up Snack Time with Fruit and Veggie Cars

Who says you can't play with your food?

Do you have a little boy who's obsessed with toy cars and racetracks? Give your kids a special treat with these fun ideas for lunch or snack.

They'll love the cool car-themed surprise, and moms will love watching their kids gobble up healthy fruits and veggies!

Fruit Car

Ingredients

  • 1 mango
  • 1 strawberry
  • 1 lemon, lime or orange
  • 2 raisins
  • 2 almonds
  • 1 toothpick
  • 1 set wooden chopsticks that come with take-out food

Instructions

1. Cut a square “compartment” on the thin side of the mango.

2. Break a toothpick in half, and attach the raisins as “arms” to the strawberry. Place the strawberry in the compartment, and place the almonds below it as “feet.”

3. Cut the lemon, lime, or orange into thick round slices. Break the chopsticks into two pieces, each approximately 2 ½ inches long. Stick each end of the chopstick pieces into the center of two of the citrus fruit slices, so that you have two sets of “wheels.”

4. Gently set the “car body” on top of the “wheels.”

Veggie Car

Ingredients

  • 1 cucumber, regular or Kirby
  • 1 cherry tomato
  • 1 pitted black olive
  • Pretzel sticks
  • Toothpicks

Instructions

1. Cut the ends off of the cucumber to desired car length. Cut a square “compartment” into the side.

2. Cut the remainder of the cucumber into 4 thick slices.

3. Place the cherry tomato in the compartment. This is the “driver.” Cut the olive in half and place it on the cherry tomato as a “helmet.”

4. Stick two cucumber slices on the ends of two toothpicks so that you have two sets of “wheels.”

5. Gently set the “car body” on top of the “wheels.” Arrange the pretzel sticks around the “car” to form a “road.

Ta da!

About the Author

Yvette Garfield's picture
Yvette is the author and creator of Handstand Kids Cookbook Company. She had the idea of creating the Handstand Kids on a very long flight back from India. She wanted to bring back cookbooks for her little cousins, but was discouraged when unable to find any for children. Upon her return to the US, she began brainstorming on how to introduce children to international foods in a fun and hands-on way. The Handstand Kids books are the perfect recipe for kids to learn how to cook, while learning about the people, places, and language of a new country. Yvette is a law school graduate who has a strong interest in international children's rights. She has worked with various non-profit organizations and the Department of Justice, Children's Rights Section. Her goal is to create a global community of healthy kids. Contact Yvette at: yvette@handstandkids.com