Dips
Dunk it, dip it, devour it – getting kids to eat more veg just got easier!
Dips turn plain old carrots and cucumbers into crunchy, dunkable, snack-time heroes.
Dunk it, dip it, devour it – getting kids to eat more veg just got easier!
Dips turn plain old carrots and cucumbers into crunchy, dunkable, snack-time heroes.
Snack time made fun
The magic of dips is simple – suddenly snack time feels like playtime. A plate of carrot sticks or cucumber batons? Way more exciting when there’s something to dunk them in. Even crisps and breadsticks get a boost when they’re teamed up with a colourful veg dip.
Just pick a couple of veg (or fruit) heroes, add a dip or two – shop-bought or homemade – and let the kids take charge of the dunking. No rules, no fuss, just a hands-on, mix-and-match way to get more bites in.
(Pro tip: don’t stress about what the dip is. If ketchup makes carrots disappear, that’s a victory.)
Quick & easy shop-bought dips
Need something you can just grab from a shop? The best choice is always your children’s favourites! These are some of ours:
Ketchup
Bright, familiar, and instantly kid-approved. A classic red splash that makes dipping fun – whatever the veg.
Salad cream or mayo
It’s tangy, creamy, and requires zero prep. This quintessentially British classic is the ultimate lazy hack for making vegetables seem edible. Just open the jar and accept your parenting award.
Hummus
Smooth, savoury, and scoopable. Great for spreading on wraps, dunking with carrots, or letting kids swipe a pepper slice straight through it.
Guacamole
Avocado in party mode. Sweet pepper sticks, celery, cherry tomatoes or just some classic tortilla crisps go brilliantly with its creamy green goodness (green moustaches optional)
Sour cream & chive
Cool and creamy, this dip makes celery, cucumber and carrot sticks taste extra refreshing. A simple winner on warm afternoons.
Salsa
Zingy, chunky, and just the right amount of messy, salsa is basically a party in a pot. Kids love scooping up the colourful bits, and it clings brilliantly to cucumber sticks and pepper strips, or just for dunking crisps or breadsticks!
9 more fun ways to dip
Got a little more time? Why not make a super simple 2 minute dip with your child? It’s fun family time, and they are much more likely to eat it if they helped make it. We’ve suggested some favourites below, but feel free to try your own and come up with new fun names!
Pea Pesto Smash
Mash some frozen peas with cream cheese and pesto.
Kid’s Role: ‘The Squisher Extraordinaire’.
Hand them a fork and let them squish until it looks like green slime. Bonus points if they make monster noises while doing it!
Magic Bean Swirl
Mash a tin of white beans or chickpeas with a fork or blitz in a blender with a drizzle of olive oil and some optional lemon and garlic.
Kid’s Role: ‘The Masher’.
Smash, smash, smash! Armed with a potato masher, their job is to squash every single bean into submission. It’s a full-body workout for them and a tasty dip for you. (If using a blender, kids can be the ‘Blitzing Controller’ and push the buttons!)
Pink Cloud Dip
Blend cooked beetroot with yogurt and a little garlic, and you’ve got a fluffy, pink dip that looks like it belongs in a cartoon sky.
Kid’s Role: ‘The Colour Inspector’.
Hand them the spoon and let them declare when the swirl of beetroot and yoghurt has reached “perfect pink.” Extra points if they give it a fancy name like “unicorn sunset” or “dragon’s blush.”
Pizza in a Pot
A dollop of cream cheese or cottage cheese in a small dish, add tomato sauce or some passata, and top with grated cheese. Add a pinch of dry oregano if you like.
Kid’s Role: ‘The Topping Sprinkler’.
They are in charge of creating the cheesy, herby blanket on top. Expect a cheese blizzard, but it’s a vital step for achieving perfect pizza flavour.
Cool Cucumber Dip
Mix plain yoghurt with grated cucumber or
courgette (squeeze the water out first!) and a little grated garlic or crumbled feta if you like.
Kid’s Role: ‘The Official Squeezer’.
After you grate the cucumber, pop it in a clean tea towel and let them squeeze all the water out. It’s messy, hilarious, and vital.
Captain’s Catch
Mix a drained tin of tuna with mayo and a spoonful of sweetcorn.
Kid’s Role: ‘The Treasure Flaker’.
They flake the tuna “treasure” and stir in the golden corn nuggets. Pirate growls encouraged.
Avocado Treasure Dip
Mash up a ripe avocado with a squeeze of lime and a few chopped tomatoes for a creamy, colourful dip that’s halfway between guacamole and salsa.
Kid’s Role: ‘The Treasure Hunter’.
Give them the job of squashing the “green gold” and mixing in the “red rubies.” Encourage plenty of pirate voices as they guard their treasure before it gets scooped up by carrot sticks.
Peanut Butter Galaxy
Mix smooth peanut butter with plain yoghurt (and a little drizzle of honey if needed). Perfect with apple or firm pear slices!
Kid’s Role: ‘The Scoop Commander’.
Armed with a spoon, they scoop, plop, and declare victory when it turns fluffy.
Honey Swirl Dip
Stir yoghurt with a drizzle of honey and a tiny sprinkle of cinnamon for a sweet, swirly dip made for fruit dunking – perfect with apples, pears, or berries.
Kid’s Role: ‘The Swirl Artist’.
Hand them the spoon and let them draw patterns in the yoghurt as the honey and cinnamon swirl together (want more colour? Try swirling defrosted berries through, too!). Expect spirals, zig-zags, and possibly a masterpiece worthy of a gallery (before it gets eaten).
Allergy and safety tips:
- Always check for allergens such as peanuts, tomatoes and celery.
- Always chop grapes and cherry tomatoes in half lengthways.
More Dip-spiration
Dips deserve their own spotlight! Browse our collection here:
Irini’s Veg Souvlaki Salad Sticks & Red Pepper Dip
Irini Tzortzoglou
Zoe’s Summer-on-a-Stick Salad Sticks with Yogurt-Mint Dip
Zoe Griffiths
Do you have a question you’d like one of our experts to help you with?
Simply Veg
Healthy made simple
Our only goal is to help parents and carers serve up affordable, simple food their families will love. We know that takes more than a few recipes, so we've got all the hacks and advice you'll need. Join now. It's 100% free and 100% simple.
For exclusive new content