Dole wants to help kids get over produce paranoia with some Monster Inc. inspired recipes

Dole whips up some Monster Inc inspired recipes to fight produce paranoia.

Dole thinks that eating fruits and veggies shouldn’t have kids hiding under the bed. Whether it is that bright green kiwi with its fuzzy skin or the funny name of the horned melon, there are plenty of fruits and vegetables in the produce aisle besides apples and bananas. With these Monster Inc. Inspired recipes, kids will be wanting another serving of their new favorite fruit filled recipe.

Sometimes parents struggle with getting kids to eat their fruits and veggies. Sure, that bowl of apple sauce doesn’t come with an argument and maybe that banana in oatmeal is acceptable. What about some other fruits that might be a little different? How do parents make eating those fruits and vegetables fun?

Periodically, Dole partners with Disney and Pixar to inspire families to find creative ways to learn to enjoy more fruits and veggies. From Lion King recipes that inspired a flavor trip to Africa to revealing how to make that Frozen Pineapple treat at home, these ideas encourage families to get into the kitchen and have some fun.

For the summer, Dole and Pixar are finding a way for both young and old to fight produce paranoia. By turning “scary fruits” into Monster Inc inspired recipes, everyone will want to take a big bite.

Dole Mike Wazowski Fruit Stack

Have you ever looked at a kiwi and wondered why the skin was fuzzy? What about that bright green color? Maybe if you could use a little imagination, that fruit could look like the adorable Mike Wazowski.

This fruit stack recipe by Dole looks a lot like the Monster Inc. Character. More importantly, it will not make the kids scream when they see it on the table.

Looking at this recipe, it is full of all types of fruits. From kiwis to pineapples to even some horned melon, it is a perfect bite to explore some new flavors and textures.

Plus, this recipe is perfect to make as a family. When kids help make a dish, they are more willing to eat the food. Maybe your child’s version of this Mike Wazowski has two eyeballs instead of just one. A little creativity in the kitchen is always a good thing.

Here’s how to make a Mike Wazowski Fruit Stack.

Ingredients:

• 2 DOLE® kiwis, peeled and cut in half lengthwise
• 1/2 DOLE® kiwi, peeled
• 4 DOLE® oval pineapple slices, about 3 inches in diameter, cut out with an oval cookie cutter
• 4 large oval slices green melon/honey dew melon, about 4 inches in diameter
• 1 peeled 1-inch slice dragon fruit
• 16 almond slivers
• 1 horned melon
• 4 dried unsweetened blueberries

Directions:

1. Place kiwi ovals upside down on top of each oval pineapple slice to resemble Mike’s head. Place each pineapple sliced ona melon oval on a plate.
2. Scoop out 4 balls from dragon fruit slice with 1/4 tsp for Mike’s l bulging eyeball (snack on scraps). Place each dragon fruit eyeball on top third of kiwi. Add a dried blueberry to form the pupil.
3. With a sharp paring knife, trim half kiwi into Mike’s dangly legs and arms and add to sides and bottom of kiwi, draped over the pineapple. Add two almond slivers to top of each kiwi to form the smiling mouth and two more almond slivers protruding out of the top of Mike’s head to his horns.
4. Scoop out horned melon and drizzle around Mike directly onto the plate.
5. Tip: Assemble the fruit stack on a white plate so that the colors of the fruit pop

Boo is ready to dig into Sulley Banana Dip

Who doesn’t like to play with their food? While no one is encouraging a food fight at the table, being able to dip into a bowl of colorful goodness is fun.

This Sully Banana Dip will get rave reviews starting with the bright blue color. Kids are drawn to blue foods. Even though there is no “real” blue food, this colorful creation is full of healthy eating goodness.

To achieve this bright blue color, simply use some natural food dye. This aspect could add to the creativity in the creation. Maybe one day Sully will be dark blue and another day he might be a little lighter.

This brightly colored dip might become a dessert option, too. With all the fruit in this treat, parents will tell kids that they can have an extra serving.

Here’s how to make Sulley Banana Dip.

Sulley Banana Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 DOLE® banana
• 6 Tbsp all-natural peanut butter
• 1tsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp natural teal gel food coloring
• 1 Tbsp dried unsweetened blueberries
• 1 Tbsp dried unsweetened cherries
• 1 DOLE® green apple, cored and cut into wedges
• 1/2 cup each DOLE® red and green grapes
• Optional: 1/8 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Puree banana, peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and teal food coloring in blender until blended–dip will be a bright teal color. Stir in dried blueberries and cherries.
2. Serve dip with apple wedges and grapes.
3. Tip: Substitute maple syrup with honey

While this recipe recommends honey or maple syrup, you could use some agave, too. Like any recipe, sometimes it is good to customize the ingredients based on your flavor preferences.

Chicken-Stuffed Roz Heads

While Roz might not be super warm and fuzzy, this dish is a hearty bite that will satisfy everyone at the table. Plus, the visual is quite amusing.

With so many people buying extra avocados for avocado toast, avocado eggs and just guacamole, that ingredient seems to be in everyone’s kitchen.

Avocado and chicken are a great pair. The flavors meld well together and that is important in a dish for the whole family.

Looking at this recipe, the use of Greek yogurt keeps the chicken lighter than using a mayonnaise for the chicken salad portion. Plus, the Greek yogurt adds touch of tartness. It offers a nice balance to the overall flavor profile.

Lastly, this recipe allows for a lot of personal choices. Who wouldn’t want to move that “mole” around Roz’s face or change her hair? Maybe it will be your way of standing up for Mike.

Here’s how to make Chicken-Stuffed Roz Heads.

Chicken-Stuffed Roz Heads

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cup cubed cooked chicken breast (about 7 ounces)
• 2/3 cup DOLE® green grapes, halved
• 1/3 cup chopped DOLE® celery
• ½ cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
• 2 DOLE® avocados, halved, pitted and peeled
• 8 small whole wheat pretzel twists
• 24 whole wheat pretzel sticks
• 1 DOLE® strawberry
• 4 dried sweetened blueberries

Directions:

1. Stir together chicken, grapes, celery, yogurt, salt and pepper.
2. Scoop four equal portions (about ½ cup) onto a serving plate to make 4 servings. Shape each into an oval.
3. Top with upside down avocado half.
4. Decorate each avocado half to resemble Roz’s face. Using a sharp paring knife, trim each pretzel twist to create the lens of her horn-rimmed glasses (cut off the double loop section of each pretzel twist and discard or enjoy as a snack, keeping the single loop portion which will become one lens. You will need 2 lenses per Roz Head). Place two pretzel lenses on each avocado to form her glasses. Add a pretzel stick to each side of avocado to form the arms of her glasses. Push 4pretzel sticks into the top of each avocado to form her hair. Add a strawberry slice, trimmed to look like lips for her mouth and a dried blueberry to the lower left side of her face to form her mole.
5. Tip: For dairy-free recipe, use plain dairy-free coconut yogurt. Use gluten-free pretzels to make the recipe gluten-free

Is bigger the waffle really some Monster Waffles?

Sometimes a favorite meal can be a great way to get kids (and parents) to be more adventurous with their food choices. When you know that one part of a meal is your favorite, you are willing to try some variations on that recipe.

Waffles are a perfect choice to try some new fruits. From kiwis to pineapple to even some dragon fruit, a few bites could have you discover a new fruit that could become your favorite. Plus, with the maple syrup (or even some powder sugar or whipped cream), everything is quite tasty.

Here’s how to make Dole Monster Waffles.

Monster Waffles

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups of DOLE® green plantains, peeled and chopped(2-3plantains)
• 5 Tbsp water
• 1 Tbsp canola oil
• 2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
• 3 egg whites
• 4 tsp whole wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup DOLE® blueberries
• 1 DOLE® kiwi, peeled and diced
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup

Directions:

1. Puree plantains, water, oil, apple sauce, egg whites, flour and salt in blender until smooth.
2. Preheat and grease waffle iron according to manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Divide batter in half. Ladle half into waffle iron to cover about two-thirds of the grid surface. Close the lid. Cook until steam stops emerging from the waffle iron, and waffles are golden-brown and cooked, about 3 to 4 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter. Cut waffles into sections and divide among 2 plates.
4. Toss together blueberries, kiwi and maple syrup for easy fruit compote. Serve over waffle sections.

These Dole Monster Inc inspired recipes are just a few of the many options. No one should have produce paranoia. A little sense of adventure could create a flavor journey of a lifetime.

What is your favorite non-traditional fruit? Do you have trick to get kids to try new foods?