Fall Harvest: 12 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat More Apples

Hello, apple season! If you’re just as excited as we are for this crisp fruit to come into peak season, we’re sure your home will soon be filled with fresh apples, plus apple treats, too! But, do you ever struggle with getting your little ones to eat their fresh fruits? We have some tips to encourage your kids to eat more apples! In fact, we have 12 total ideas listed in this blog, perfect for apple-eating in the fall harvest season.

From how you pick them to how you slice them and serve them, the way apples are presented to your kids may impact their willingness and excitement to eat this delicious and healthy fruit. Thanks to the many varieties of apples, you can serve up this fall favorite every day of the week.

1. Keep apples in-sight

This first way to get your kids to eat more apples is pretty straightforward. If you have apples in the house and they are easily accessible, the more likely your family is to pick one up for an easy snack. Furthermore, keeping some apples in a bowl on the counter instead of in a drawer in the refrigerator makes them even more visible as soon as hunger strikes.

Another way to accomplish this concept is to keep a handful of apple slices in the refrigerator in a bag or container at eye level (for your kids). So, as soon as they open the door, they are right there and easy to grab. Just be sure to drizzle some orange juice on them if you plan to store the apple slices for a while in order to prevent browning.

2. Apple picking at the store

No apple orchard nearby? Go apple picking at your local Food Lion instead. Let your little ones help pick the perfect apples to bring home and enjoy. They’ll feel like certified grown-ups.

While you’re there, look for all sorts of apple varieties such as:

• Granny Smith
• Pink Lady
• Gala
• Honeycrisp
• Red Delicious
• Gold Delicious
• Fuji
• SweeTango
• And more!

3. Taste test

Surprise your kids with a healthy experiment and do a taste test of several different types of apples. What's different about them? What's similar? Which is the sweetest? The juiciest? The tastiest? It’ll be an educational and delicious moment!

4. Taste test part two

Present your children with apples in different forms, like applesauce, muffins, apple butter or even apple juice or apple cider. Then, taste test different varieties of the fruit to see if your kids can guess what apples were the main ingredient in each item.

Or, simply taste different apple items and let your kiddos rate them on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being their top and 5 being their last pick).

5. Go for a dip

We all know that kids love any food they can dip. So try a variety of apples and dips, like these four tasty combinations:

• Red Delicious apples and peanut butter
• Granny Smith apples and melted cheese
• Pink Lady apples and yogurt
• Gala apples and caramel

6. Peel away

Some kids turn their noses up at apples because the skin can be challenging to chew. So, peel away the skin and give your child the whole apple to munch on, and introduce the skin over time.

To do that, simply leave the peel on a piece or two at a time. Spread some peanut butter, caramel sauce or chocolate hummus on those slices to make them extra enticing. Then, as your little ones get used to the skin’s texture, leave more slices with the skin on.

7. Slice them up

Whether you cut them into quarters, eighths or take the time to use miniature cookie cutters on thin slices of apple, presenting the familiar in a new way can have your kids asking for more apples. After all, who can resist a cute little slice of apple or fruit cut into their favorite shapes?

8. Go sweet

Turn fruit into an indulgent dessert ready for a fall harvest. This is a sure-fire way to get your kiddos to eat their apples (especially if they have a sweet tooth). You can either rely on the old staples like apple pie, apple cobbler or apple dumplings or serve up warm sautéed cinnamon apples for a satisfying and simple apple dessert. Here are some apple treats you may want to try:

• Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake
• Caramel Walnut Bloomin’ Apple
• Apple Slice Donuts
• Apple Pie Pizza
• Salted Caramel Apple Parfaits

9. Mix and match

Make your own fruit salad with apples and other fruits of the season, like grapes and pears. You can also add apple chunks to your kid's morning oatmeal or whip up a fruity apple smoothie for a quick and light breakfast. Or, for a fantastic fall side, include chopped apples in your stuffing.

10. Coloring time

If your kids are wary of trying red apples, be sure they know the many varieties. You may even get a picky eater to bite into an apple if yellow is his favorite color and – ta-da! – you present him with a yellow apple of his very own.

11. Sweeten lunch and dinner

Savory and sweet are an irresistible combination. So, try introducing apples to your lunches and dinners. For instance, grilled cheese with a thinly sliced Granny Smith apple makes for a sweet and savory sandwich. Or make some crunchy apple sandwiches with granola and peanut butter.

Then, for dinner, how about pork chops with apples? Or, make a batch of hearty sweet potato, apple and bacon soup.

12. Chip in

If your child would rather eat potato chips than fruit, give crunchy, tasty (addictive) apple chips a whirl. They are delicious on salads and desserts and an excellent, better-for-you, fun addition to lunch boxes.

Ready to make the most of apple season and enjoy some fresh and crisp fall fruits with your kids? Use these 12 ideas to convince even the pickiest of eaters to take a bite and (hopefully) fall in love with sweet apples. Want a little recipe inspiration to make delicious apple dishes for your family? Check out our recipe portal! Then, head to your neighborhood Food Lion to shop for the ingredients you need at low prices.