You know how I feel about cute food, right? If there’s a culinary — or worse, architecture — degree involved, I’ll pass. Toiling away in the kitchen is not my dream. But I want our kids to learn to love food, to be totally up for trying new things and generally aware of what they’re eating, so sometimes cute food helps.

But only cute food…that’s also easy to make.

How about three classic Halloween recipes preschoolers can make themselves?

We have two preschoolers–George (age 3) and Estelle (age 4)–who totally mastered today’s dishes. Our first grader Phoebe (age 6) also joined in and together the three of them sat down to assemble today’s lunch ALL BY THEMSELVES.

(That’s when my real dream of kids who feed themselves came one festive little step closer to reality!)

The rascals did the lion’s share of work for lunch today. I sliced, set out ingredients and did a tutorial for each one. Then left them to it.

They all managed very well! No fussing. No whining. Everyone was successful and everyone ate it all. Studies (and experience) show that kids who help make the meal are typically more excited to try it.

But every time I make something like this I hear a couple of questions:

Do your kids always eat processed food like this? That doesn’t seem very healthy. No. These are special Halloween treats. (And the hotdogs are nitrate-free Turkey dogs, not that this makes them health food but you know, effort.)

What if they demand CUTE FOOD all the time? What if I try to serve a regular ol’ hotdog next week only to be met with crossed arms from my kids? Give ’em to the gypsies! Just kidding. Set expectations, I say. I routinely talk the kids through their options ahead of time. And during. And afterward. Constantly coaching them through what to expect. They’ll ask for something like this again and you can make a plan for a day that works well for you. (Perhaps that day is next Halloween. Up to you!)

How to make mummy dogs

Why #MummyDogs are perfect for preschoolers to make:

• They require only 2 ingredients.
• There’s almost no cleanup.
• It’s wrapping dough around a hotdog. It doesn’t get simpler (or lower-stakes) than that.

{What the adult does…}

Start with Crescent rolls and hot dogs.

Pull dough apart into 4 rectangles.

Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut strips.

{What the kids do…}

Wrap the strips all the way around the hot dogs.

Use your finger to make room for a face.

Into the oven for 15-17 minutes at 375 degrees F.

Add mustard “eyes” after they come out of the oven. Tip: Don’t move the mummies after you apply the mustard. These eyes have a nasty habit of smearing.

How to make Eyeballs

Eyeballs? You betcha. It’s a vegetable + another vegetable. How many Halloween foods can you say that about?

{What the adult does…}

Start with cream cheese (or Ranch dressing — see below), a mini cucumber and baby carrots. Slice the cucumber and baby carrots into rounds.

{What the kids do}

Put a dab of cream cheese on either the cucumber (use a spoon) or the carrot (just dip it in) and “glue” one to the other.

Ranch dressing also works well for glue. Tip: This version would not travel well. The dressing is too runny to hit the road without smearing everywhere. But for lunch at home? Awesome.

How to Make Banana Ghosts

These are actually the trickiest of the three because chocolate chips aren’t quite sharp enough to be inserted easily. But once they get it down, you’ve got ghosts in about 20 seconds flat.

{The kids do everything!}

Cut a banana in half (to make 2 ghosts).

Insert chocolate chips, “pointy” side down. These are the eyes. Tip: You can easily make both sides while the mummies are in the oven. Do the ghosts last so they don’t have a chance to turn brown before being devoured.

And also, keep an eye on all toddlers.