Big Willy is a giant desert turtle loved and cared for by my grandchildren. To celebrate this special friend, we are assembling a cute, nutrient packed turtle snack. Children will have fun creating their very own Big Willy after school or even from their lunch pack at school.
Ingredients:
- ½ peach (or apple)
- ½ strawberry
- 2 blue berries
- Dried cranberries
- Banana-cut in two inch strips (or star fruit, sliced)
- Nut butter (peanut, almond, hazelnut)
- Baby spinach leaves
Lay the spinach leaves on a large plate. This is “grass” for Willy. Center the half peach onto the spinach forming Willy’s back. Make a small pastry bag from a plastic lunch bag by cutting a slit in one corner. Place 2 T. of nut butter into a small plastic sandwich bag. Twist the top and force the nut butter from the tip to “glue” pieces to Willy. Glue the strawberry onto one end of the peach, lying on the spinach leaves. Place the blueberries for eyes on the strawberry head. The banana strips or star fruit are legs and tail. Decorate Willy’s shell with the dried cranberries using the nut butter to attach.
Big Willy Fruit Snack Dipping Sauce
Combine 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt with ½ c. drained crushed pineapple. Season with ginger and cinnamon, if desired. This is a healthy dip for the fruit and spinach.
For a special surprise, place the needed fruit pieces in a zip lock bag in your child’s lunch box. Add a picture of how to assemble Big Willy. Your child will be the envy of all his friends as he creates Big Willy at school! There is so much nutrition in this snack that it qualifies as a full lunch entrée.
