Rosa Leon and her 7-month-old daughter Kari Leon try a vegetable monster tostada during the annual National Nutrition Month celebration at the WIC East Amherst office in Tyler Tuesday March 21, 2017. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Monsters and butterflies might seem like an unlikely pair, but when it comes to getting kids to eat a healthy snack, they’re a dynamic duo.

Moms and their kids learned that this week during a celebration of National Nutrition Month at the  the WIC Tyler East Amherst office. The event Tuesay featured activities and food samples as well as other information aimed at helping families – a child car-safety demonstration, information on container gardening, recipes for healthy snacks and drinks, information on banking for food budgeting and more.

“This year’s National Nutrition Month theme is Best Fork Forward,” WIC nutritionist Pam Mitchell said. “That means you have tools in hand to change your health for the better.”

Some of those “tools” included beets (yes, beets – they’re packed with nutrients and they add a hot-pink hue when mixed into things like hummus or pancake batter ‑‑ and something as simple as a sandwich baggie and a few craft supplies. Pack the baggie with healthy munchies, such as low-sugar cereal, cinch it in the middle with the clothespin, affix googly eyes and a pipe cleaner antenna and voila – it’s a healthy snack masquerading as a beautiful butterfly. 

The WIC Tyler East Amherst office serves about 2,600 clients a month. WIC is a supplemental food program that provides free services to women, children and fathers who meet eligibility guidelines.