Mom confession: My kids didn’t eat carrot sticks for the first six or so years of their lives. I vividly recall when my first daughter was in preschool, I would notice all the kids who were happily crunching away on their fresh veggies when it was all I could do to get mine to eat a peanut butter sandwich. And that’s if I was lucky. It’s not that I didn’t pack them healthy snacks and foods, they were just never interested in them. They wouldn’t even touch apples - apples, of all things! “Too crunchy”, Kylie would say. At one point, she even told me that she “just didn’t eat anything that color”. Ummm...what?! As a kid who ate everything, this picky eating thing was new and very challenging to me.

So I did what every good parent would likely do in my shoes: I kept trying. We all hear the advice: “If they don’t like it now, it doesn’t mean they won’t like it in the future, just keep trying”. Or “It takes at least xx number of times for a child to try something before they’ll like it”. In the lunch box would go the fruits and veggies, and that’s where they would remain until the lunch box came back home and we’d do it all again the next day.

Flash forward a few years and all of that’s behind us now. They now love not only carrot sticks and apples, but l can’t keep enough sugar snap peas in our house to keep up with demand! My secret? Fruit Dip, Veggie Dip and Caramel Dip. All by the Marzetti brand and all super yummy! Our entire family loves them and it’s funny, we all have our favorites: Kylie loves the Ranch Veggie Dip, Katie the Cream Cheese Fruit Dip and I looove the Caramel Dip (I say I buy it for the kids - and I do - but when a sweet craving strikes it goes perfectly with an apple for a healthier treat). I buy sugar snap peas, strawberries and apples in bulk now and the girls have been eating them all summer with their favorite dip. What I love most about the Marzetti dips is that they have so much flavor, you don’t need to smother the fruits and veggies with it. And they have a ton of recipes you can make with their products, too!

This has all been on my mind lately as we gear back up for another year of school. I’m so relieved that it’s one less thing for me to think about now, especially since I discovered Marzetti’s Snack Packs! Packing snacks and lunches is my most dreaded daily chore and I love that I can just toss some fresh veggies along with a snack-sized Veggie Dip into their lunches. Now I have the pleasure of seeing empty lunch boxes come home and I know that it’s one battle I’ve finally won.

I’m sharing a couple of recipes from MarzettiKitchens.com that use their dips to make fast and easy snacks and treats. I love the Celery Bites because of all the fun toppings they suggest (my personal favorite is the one with smoked salmon, capers and lemon zest)! And the Caramel Cereal Crunch Bars are sooo easy and fun (great for a schooltime treat or even for a birthday party)! Give them both a try, you’ll love them!

Celery Bites with Assorted Fillings

• Celery
• Marzetti® Ranch Veggie Dip
• Marzetti® Blue Cheese Veggie Dip
• Marzetti® Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip
• Marzetti® Dill Veggie Dip

1. Rinse celery stalks, trim the ends and cut into 4 to 5 inch pieces. Pat them dry with paper towels. Fill the center of each piece with one, or a variety of the following fillings:

• Tuna or egg salad prepared with Marzetti® Ranch Veggie Dip
• Marzetti® Ranch Veggie Dip topped with grated carrots, sunflower seeds and freshly chopped herbs
• Marzetti® Blue Cheese Veggie Dip with chopped crispy bacon and chopped parsley
• Marzetti® Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip with finely chopped cooked chicken and chopped scallions
• Marzetti® Dill Veggie Dip with smoked salmon, capers and lemon zest

Caramel Cereal Crunch Bars

• 1 cup Marzetti® Old Fashioned Caramel Dip
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 6 cups crispy rice cereal
• 2 cups favorite toasted oat cereal
• 6 oz. milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate
• 2 tsp. shortening
• Favorite candy sprinkle

1. Line a 9"x13" pan with parchment or wax paper. In a microwave safe bowl, combine Marzetti Caramel Dip, butter and white chocolate chips and microwave for 40 to 60 seconds. Mix until smooth. (Additional time in the microwave may be needed, proceed in 20 second intervals. Mix after each additional time.)
2. Combine both cereals in a large bowl. Pour melted caramel mixture over the cereal and mix until the cereal is coated. Spoon mixture into a prepared pan, pressing firmly into an even layer.
3. Refrigerator for 2 hours or until bars are firm.
4. In a small microwave bowl, combine chocolate and shortening. Microwave for 30 seconds and mix until smooth. (Microwave an additional 10 to 20 seconds if necessary, to melt chocolate completely.)
5. Spread chocolate mixture evenly over top of bars and sprinkle with candy bits. Chill an additional 30 minutes. Cut bars into desired pieces. Serve chilled.
6. Store covered with plastic wrap in refrigerator.