3 No-Cook Recipes for Kids

No-cook recipes for kids make a great summer activity. When it’s hot outside, cool foods appeal, and no one much wants to turn on the oven or stove. The appeal of no-cook recipes for kids extends to the entire year, however, since no-cook recipes go a long way toward burn prevention and protecting little hands and fingers. But no-cook recipes also tend to be put together quickly, which means they can be made and enjoyed without an endless wait for children to eat what they’ve prepared.

The following three recipes begin with the classic “ants on a log,” often the first recipe a child prepares. Watch your child’s proud smile as a plate of these treats are offered around. There’s nothing quite like that feeling of pride and accomplishment at having produced a first plate of food.

Ants on a Log

Yield: 8 logs (4 servings)

Ingredients:

• 4 stalks of celery, washed and dried, cut horizontally in half
• 8 Tablespoons (approximately) creamy peanut butter
• ¼-½ cups raisins

Method:

1. Using a spoon, fill celery cavities with peanut butter, to make the logs
2. Dot the peanut butter with raisins to represent the ants.
3. Arrange on a plate and serve.

Kids love sweet treats, and this layered applesauce yogurt parfait with raisin granola is healthy enough to have for breakfast. The parfaits are also so easy to assemble, that you should be able to assist your child even before your second cup of coffee kicks in. Not quite as easy as setting out cereal, but certainly easier than eggs or pancakes. Not to mention how delighted your child will be at having created these beautiful parfaits.

Layered Applesauce Yogurt Parfaits with Raisin Granola

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• Dash ground nutmeg
• Dash of ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 1/2 cup raisin granola
• 1-1/3 cups vanilla yogurt

Method:

1. In small bowl, combine applesauce, nutmeg, cinnamon, and maple syrup.
2. Using 4 parfait glasses, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of granola into each glass.
3. Add a layer of 1/3 cup of the yogurt followed by a layer of ¼ cup of the applesauce, into each glass.
4. Sprinkle the parfaits with the remaining granola.
5. Serve immediately.

The last of our 3 no-cook recipes for kids covers lunch, with this tasty veggie wrap. A little bit of salsa or chopped fresh tomatoes, melds with the hummus and cheddar cheese to give this wrap a punch of savory flavor. Kids who don’t like vegetables, may change their minds after making their own veggie wrap. They’re bright and colorful and fun to eat.

No-Cook Veggie Wraps

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 tortilla
• 2 tablespoons hummus
• 1 lettuce leaf
• ¼ carrot, shredded
• 4 cucumber sticks and/or 2 avocado slices
• 1 tablespoon tomato salsa or chopped tomatoes
• 1 handful grated cheddar

Method:

1. Lay the tortilla out flat on a board, spread the hummus on the bottom third and place the lettuce leaf on top. Arrange the carrot, cucumber and/or avocado in the center of the lettuce leaf, spooning the salsa or chopped tomatoes, over the top. Sprinkle with cheese.
2. Pull the bottom of the wrap up just over the filling, fold in the sides, then roll the wrap all the way up. Cut in half or into shorter pinwheels.
3. Serve.

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