Eating healthy doesn’t have to be scary! Today we’re sharing some “monstrous” recipes from Dole Food Company that are inspired by Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University. 

In an effort to encourage kids to eat a wider variety of produce, Dole has shared several fun “Monsters in the Kitchen” recipes inspired by our friends from Monstropolis. And today, we’re sharing those recipes with you — this is going to be scary fun!

Monstropolis Waffles

The first recipe on our list is for Monstropolis Waffles! These health-conscious waffles are sure to jazz up your breakfast, AND get your little one to branch out with their morning meal selections.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• 1 ½ cups of DOLE® green plantains, peeled and chopped (2-3 plantains)
• 5 Tbsp water
• 1 Tbsp canola oil
• 2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
• 3 egg whites
• 4 tsp whole wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup DOLE® blueberries
• 1 DOLE® kiwi, peeled and diced
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup

Directions:

1. Puree plantains, water, oil, apple sauce, egg whites, flour, and salt in blender until smooth.
2. Preheat and grease waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Divide batter in half. Ladle half into the waffle iron to cover about two-thirds of the grid surface. Close the lid. Cook until steam stops emerging from the waffle iron, and waffles are golden brown and cooked, about 3 to 4 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter. Cut waffles into sections and divide among 2 plates.
4. Toss together blueberries, kiwi, and maple syrup for easy fruit compote. Serve over waffle sections.

Oodles of Monster Swoodles

The next recipe is perfect for those children (and parents) who love pasta, but would like to branch out to try healthier alternatives! This one is called: Oodles of Monster Swoodles.

Tips Before You Start:

1. Peeled broccoli stems can also be spiralized for noodles.
2. If you don’t have a spiralizer, you can use a vegetable peeler – you’ll end up with fettuccine-width slices of sweet potato. Or, you can purchase pre-spiralized sweet potatoes.

Ingredients Needed:

• 1 Tbsp olive oil + 1 tsp olive oil
• 3 small DOLE® sweet potatoes, peeled and spiralized (about 4 cups)
• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for a few seconds. Add spiralized noodles, and cook, stirring occasionally with tongs for 15 minutes or until tender. Stir in tomatoes, salt, and pepper until combined. Cook for 1 minute longer or until tomatoes are heated through.
2. Divide among bowls. Serve with some of the noodles hanging down sides of the bowl to form “tentacles”.
3. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tsp of olive oil and lemon juice before serving.

Little Boo Brussels Sprouts Bites

This one is a great choice for those who are trying to branch out in their vegetable selection — the perfect way to make brussels sprouts desirable!

Tips Before You Start:

1. Stir in finely chopped parsley, mint, or basil to dip if desired.
2. If no fresh garlic available, 1 tsp of garlic powder can be used as a substitute.
3. If you don’t have any air fryer, you can still get a similar crisp from the oven. Preheat a sheet pan in the oven at 450° and once hot, roast brussels sprouts at the same temperature for 20-25 minutes until deeply browned. Or, roast the brussels sprouts on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet.

Ingredients That You’ll Need:

• 10 oz DOLE® Brussels Sprouts, quartered
• 1 ½ Tbsp olive oil
• 2/3 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt
• 1 ½ tsp lemon zest
• 1 ½ tsp lemon juice
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• ¼ tsp each salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Toss together Brussels sprouts and oil until well coated.
2. Place in air-fryer bowl. Cook on 350ºF setting for 12 to 14 minutes or until crispy and golden.
3. Stir together yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper until blended.
4. Serve crispy Brussels sprouts with yogurt dip.

Check Out More Recipes From DFB by Clicking HERE!

Mike Wazowski Fruit Snack

Of the five recipes shared, this next one is definitely the cutest! Introducing the Mike Wazowski Fruit Snack — made to look like the monster himself!

Ingredients:

• 2 DOLE® kiwis, peeled and cut in half lengthwise
• 1/2 DOLE® kiwi, peeled
• 4 DOLE® oval pineapple slices, about 3 inches in diameter, cut out with an oval cookie cutter
• 4 large oval slices green melon/honey dew melon, about 4 inches in diameter
• 1 peeled 1-inch slice dragon fruit
• 16 almond slivers
• 1 horned melon
• 4 dried unsweetened blueberries

Directions:

1. Place kiwi ovals upside down on top of each oval pineapple slice to resemble Mike’s head. Place each pineapple sliced on a melon oval on a plate.
2. Scoop out 4 balls from dragon fruit slice with 1/4 tsp for Mike’s l bulging eyeball (snack on scraps). Place each dragon fruit eyeball on the top third of the kiwi. Add a dried blueberry to form the pupil.
3. With a sharp paring knife, trim half kiwi into Mike’s dangly legs and arms and add to sides and bottom of kiwi, draped over the pineapple. Add two almond slivers to top of each kiwi to form the smiling mouth and two more almond slivers protruding out of the top of Mike’s head to his horns.
4. Scoop out horned melon and drizzle around Mike directly onto the plate.

Sulley Banana Dip

Our final recipe is inspired by Mr. James P. Sullivan — the Sulley Banana Dip!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• 1 DOLE® banana
• 6 Tbsp all-natural peanut butter
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp natural teal gel food coloring
• 1 Tbsp dried unsweetened blueberries
• 1 Tbsp dried unsweetened cherries
• 1 DOLE® green apple, cored and cut into wedges
• 1/2 cup each DOLE® red and green grapes
• Optional: 1/8 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Puree banana, peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and teal food coloring in a blender until blended – dip will be a bright teal color. Stir in dried blueberries and cherries.
2. Serve dip with apple wedges and grapes.

For Another Monstrous Meal, Check Out This ‘Star Wars’ Recipe HERE!

Will you be trying any of these recipes at home? Tell us in the comments below!