Who doesn't love the the colorful variety of a shish kebob?  Not only are they enticing, they're the perfect portion size for a snack!  The options are endless, so you may want to snag a set of plastic or metal skewers to use over and over -- Crate & Barrel (Westport), Williams Sonoma (Danbury & Westport), Bed Bath & Beyond, and even the supermarkets stock them.   You can either make all fruit kebabs, all veggie kebabs, or pop cheese cubes between.  You may toy with assigning a color to each day of the week -- Monday is red (tomatoes/peppers and/or strawberries/watermelon), Tuesday is orange, Wednesday is yellow, Thursday is green and Friday is blue/purple.  It's more planning ahead than actual preparation, so if you find you're low on time or produce that day, hit up one of the many high-quality salad bars around -- they've already done the chopping and bite-sizing!  For instance, The Pantry in Fairfield stocks mozzarella balls, mandarin oranges, baby corn, chickpeas, beans, peppers, edamame, cucumbers, celery, hard-boiled eggs, grape tomatoes & toasted almonds.  You'll find similar fare at the Garelick & Herbs in Westport, New Canaan and Greenwich. 

If you're in the mood to outdo yourself, take advice from Fairfield County's own Naptime Chef, Kelsey Banfield.  She suggests a hearty guacamole served with fresh veggies, or watermelon salad topped with shredded coconut (yum)! 

Due to allergies, several schools have put a stop on peanut butter, but it's the perfect snack to save for when they get home.  C'mon ... you remember these ... ants on a log, Ritz sandwiches, or slather it on apple slices straight from Silverman's Farm in Easton or Beardsley's Cider Mill in Shelton.  (And not for nothing, but they'd all taste glorious with almond or sunflower butter, too)!

And for that day when you just want to treat them, trek over to Stew Leonard's in Norwalk or Danbury.  Watch the rice cakes pop out of the machine, and wash them down with some flavored milk (or, gasp!, soft serve).  We promise not to judge.

The Pantry:
1580 Post Rd., Fairfield, CT
203-259-0400

Garelick & Herbs:
48 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830
203-661-7373

1799 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880
203-254-3727

97 Main Street, New Canaan, CT 06840
203-972-8200

Beardsley's Cider Mill:
278 Leavenworth Road, Route 110,Shelton, CT 06484
203-926-1098

Silverman's Farm:
451 Sport Hill Rd., Easton, CT
203-261-3306

Stew Leonard's:
99 Federal Road, Danbury, CT 06811
203-790-8030

100 Westport Avenue
, Norwalk, CT 06851
203-847-7214