Dear Pam:

Raisins are a great food to promote with kids. Did you know that they have almost as much iron by weight as ground beef or dried beans? To make the most of the non-heme iron in raisins, serve them with a food containing vitamin C, such as orange juice. They are also a concentrated source of calories, sugar, potassium, fiber, and some B vitamins.

Raisins straight out of the box is the simplest recipe. Just be sure that the raisins are purchased in tightly sealed bags or boxes. Squeeze them if you can to see if the raisins are soft. If they rattle, they are dried out, and aren't as tasty, or as appropriate for little ones. For long term storage at home, keep them in an airtight container for up to a year in the fridge, or indefinitely in the freezer.

Although I can't guarantee the popularity of the following recipes,they are all good ways to include raisins in the diets of kids (and adults!)

1. Ants on a Log: Spread a celery stick with peanut butter, line up raisin ants marching across the top.
2. Trail Mix: Mix raisins into a combination of other dried fruits, peanuts, chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, puffed cereals or popcorn.
3. Cottage cheese and raisins:Add cinnamon and raisins to cottage cheese
4. Yogurt and raisin:s Plump raisins in a little water on the stove, cool and add to vanilla yogurt
5. Oatmeal and raisins: Add raisins and brown sugar to oatmeal or other hot cereal
6. Raisin muffins:
   Add a half cup of raisins to your favorite muffin recipe. They are particularly tasty in banana, apple, or pumpkin muffins.
7. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies: Check the side of the Oatmeal box for a great recipe.
8. Baked apples: Core, but do not peel a large apple. Place in a baking dish. Fill the center with raisins, chopped walnuts, cinnamon and brown sugar. Add a little cider to the bottom of the pan. Bake or microwave until soft. Topwith cream, vanilla yogurt or vanilla ice cream.
9. Raisin Bread:
   Purchase raisin bread, toast and spread with peanut butter or honey.
10. Raisin Bagels:
    Buy fresh from your local bagel bakery and spread with low fat cream cheese.
11. Rice Pudding: Here’s a great recipe for Sweet Rice and Raisin Pudding
12. Raisin Pancakes:
    Add raisins to pancake batter
13. Carrot Raisin Salad: Grate four good sized carrots, add 1/2 cup finely chopped peanuts and 1/2 cup of raisins. Toss with a low fat mayonnaise. Add a little brown sugar if desired.
14. Baked Custard:
    Add raisins to your favorite baked custard recipe
15. Peanut butter faces: Spread peanut butter over a rice cake. Create faces with raisins, for eyes, mouth and nose.

All of these suggestions are simple ways to add raisins to anyone's diet. Have fun!!

Thanks for writing.

Sincerely,
Sue Gilbert

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