If you're trying to encourage your children to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, try putting together these fun monster faces. They only take a few minutes to make - and they can be as varied as your imagination!

Makes: 2

Preparation time:

10 minutes

Cooking time:

None

Approximate cost for recipe:

86p

Approximate cost per serving:

43p

• 4 slices cucumber
• 2 seedless grapes, halved
• 1 small eating apple, cored and sliced into 8 wedges
• 1 celery stick, cut in half
• 4 ready-to-eat dried apricots
• 1 small banana, halved lengthways
• 12 sultanas or raisins
• 1 carrot, grated

1. Take two large plates (plain ones work best). For the eyes, place two cucumber slices on each plate and position half a grape on top of each slice for the eyeballs. Place an apple slice above the eyes to make the eyebrows, then put an apple slice on each side of the plate to form the ears.
2. For the nose, put a piece of celery to run lengthways between the eyes, then position a dried apricot at each side of the celery to resemble nostrils.
3. For the mouth, place half a banana on each place and put a few sultanas or raisins along it to represent teeth.
4. Finally, use the grated carrot to add 'hair' - either or the top of the head, or as a beard or moustache.

Tip 1: Vary the faces as you wish, according to what's in you fridge and storecupboard.

Tip 2: If your child is quite hungry, use two plain crackers spread with low-fat soft cheese for the eyes, topping them with the cucumber and grapes, as above.