This Fourth of July, combine fruit and sugar to create a sweet treat that is both fun and nutritious.

Story by: Erin Wiedmar, M.Ed., RDN, L.D., CDE on July 2, 2020

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down” and “let food be thy medicine” are two age-old adages that still ring true today. Using your creativity to add fun and flavor to foods is how we connect food and occasion. This Fourth of July, combine fruit and sugar to create a sweet treat that is both fun and nutritious. Try one of these recipes to bring a smile to any face!

RED, WHITE AND BLUE CHOCOLATE-COVERED STRAWBERRIES

• Strawberries
• White chocolate chips
• Blue sprinkles

Instructions

Melt chocolate in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring continuously until melted. Dip strawberries carefully into the chocolate, and then dip just the tip of the strawberry into the blue sprinkles — creating red, white and blue “stripes.”

Set on wax paper and let cool at room temperature for about 15 minutes. They are best served the same day they are made and stored in a cool place — not the refrigerator.

RED, WHITE AND BLUE STRAWBERRY SKEWERS

• Skewers (I used wooden coffee stirrers.)
• Strawberries, cut into pieces
• Angel food cake, pinched into pieces
• Blueberries
• Marshmallows
• Powdered sugar

Instructions

Stack your ingredients onto your skewers in a red, white and blue order (can use the cake or marshmallows for the white pieces).

Sprinkle with powdered sugar. They are best served the same day they are made and stored in a cool place — not the refrigerator.

Erin Wiedmar, M.Ed., RDN, L.D., CDE, is a clinical nutritionist with Norton Healthcare.