Healthy and Fun Holiday Treats

Healthy snacks fit into the MyPlate food groups and include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy. Children may get a sizable portion of their daily nutrients from snacks, so the content of the snacks should contribute to their MyPlate recommendations. Here are some ideas to help you create healthy holiday snacks:

• Use whole grain cereals to make rice cereal treats. Then make holiday shapes such as turkeys or Christmas trees. 
• Serve a healthy trail mix made of peanuts, pretzels, and whole grain cereals or crackers in an individual bag or cup decorated with fun holiday cutouts instead of cookies or candies.
• Use whole grain flour when making cutout cookies. Decorate with a light, colorful glaze.
• Serve an oatmeal cookie on a plate surrounded by thin slices of red and green apples fanned out like turkey feathers. Use raisins for the eyes and cheese pieces for the feet and bill.
• Serve fun snacks like apple smiles made from apple slices, peanut butter, and miniature marshmallows, or ants on a log made from celery, peanut butter, and raisins. They aren't necessarily holiday themed, but they are fun any time of the year.
• Choose holiday cookie recipes that include fruits such as dried cranberries, dates, or raisins.
• Serve hot chocolate made from scratch with fat free or low fat milk. Or, if choosing instant hot chocolate powder, choose ones with less sugar and added calcium.