Dip, dip hooray! The easy, surefire way to add delicious fun to mealtime

Who doesn't love to dip? Whether it's a stem of broccoli meeting ranch dressing or a gooey mozzarella stick coated with marinara sauce, the act of dipping makes many foods more enjoyable. And if you're a kid, dipping can turn a ho-hum meal into a fun adventure.

Savvy parents know that providing just the right kind of dip is a great way to make the foods that kids already love even more flavorful and fun. Parents who practice dipping creativity also can help kids discover new, nutritious foods while satisfying their innate need to play.

Share the fun

How you dip can be as important to the fun as what you dip. Sharing your dipping techniques and tips can be a great way to foster kids' creativity. Now through September 30, you can share your little dipper's best ways to dip by entering the "Dip, Dip Hooray!" contest sponsored by Tyson(R) Chicken Nuggets, Ore-Ida(R) French Fries and Heinz(R) Ketchup. Go to www.tellushowyoudip.com to enter and for complete contest rules. Twenty-five grand prize winners will get a three-day, two-night trip to the Aquatica SeaWorld water park in Orlando. Their winning entries will be published in a "Diptionary." Another 50 first-prize winners also will be included in the Diptionary and will receive a printed edition.

As you develop your dipping repertoire beyond fish sticks with tartar sauce and celery with cream cheese, consider these dip tips to expand your - and your child's - culinary horizons:

Dip pairing is an art

Pairing the right dip is essential to enhancing the overall meal experience. Some are tried-and-true and too good to give up, like ketchup and fries, raw veggies and ranch dressing, fruit and yogurt, chicken nuggets and barbecue sauce, and cheese sauce with practically anything.

But don't be afraid to innovate. Is there a food you'd love to get your youngster to try? Think of the flavors you love to eat with that food and then look for ways to draw those tastes into a dip.

Presentation counts

If it can be picked up with a little hand or on a fork, it can be dipped. Chicken nuggets, French fries, baby carrots, apple slices - you name it, you can dip it. The right marriage of flavors is important, but it's the fun of dipping that draws kids in. So don't overlook presentation. Bored by bowls? Rarely able to find a ramekin? Find fun, funky ways to give kids their dipping sauce.

Dipping food can be a great, wholesome way to make mealtime even more fun for kids.