Veggie Critter Snacks

You’ll need:
1 packet Hidden Valley® The Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix
2 8 oz. tubs reduced fat cream cheese
A wide variety of chopped, colorful vegetables such as: asparagus, cherry tomatoes, crinkle cut carrots, baby carrots, bell peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber, eggplant, shredded carrots and olives


Instructions:

1. Add the seasoning mix to the cream cheese.
   
2. Stir until well combined.
3. Using a variety of vegetables – and a little imagination – you can build critters with your child.

Ideas:
Butterflies: Use asparagus for the body. Use the ranch and cream cheese mixture to attach crinkle-cut carrots for wings, and add decorations to the wings with bits of bell pepper.

Lady Bugs: Slice a cherry tomato in half. Use the ranch and cream cheese mixture to attach the tomato to a slice of cucumber or eggplant; attach the other cherry tomato half for the head. Then attach lady bug spots with bits of olive.

Caterpillars: Cut cauliflower into florets. Use the ranch and cream cheese mixture to attach the pieces of cauliflower together. Then attach shredded carrot for legs and asparagus for antennae.

Note: Since there will plenty of the ranch and cream cheese mixture leftover, store it in the refrigerator. It also makes a delicious veggie dip.

Serves several hungry after-school snackers
Prep Time: as long as you want

Recipe created by Jodie Shield, R.D. on behalf of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings.