Cookies for Santa Clause and carrots for the Reindeer…it’s all about balance!
But sometimes, during the holiday season, there can be an imbalance of less nutrient-dense foods and more sugar-packed treats. If you are looking to add a few more healthy snacks to your holiday spread without sacrificing on taste or presentation I’ve got you covered! And the best part is that they are so easy your kids can help make them!
Veggie Wreath
This one is a great way to get children involved in making a veggie platter that they can serve to their friends at a play date or as part of holiday dinner appetizers. When children are involved in veggie prep, they are always more interested in eating those veggies too!
What you need: 1 cucumber, 3 baby tomatoes, dip of your choice (optional)
Here is how you make it:
- Slice cucumber and place on plate in a circle slightly overlapping (see photo below) to make “a wreath”.
- Cut baby tomatoes in half and place as “decorations” on your wreath.
- You can leave it as that or add a red pepper hummus and/or guacamole as festive dips.
Mini Apple Wreath
These can be called wreaths or donuts and are always a hit with little ones. It is a great “snacktivity” for any time of the day! And if you want it to last even longer, have your children take the pomegranate seeds out of the larger fruit as part of the process!
What you need: (for 4-5 wreaths): 1 apple, ½ cup goat cheese, cream cheese or Greek yogurt, ½ cup pomegranate seeds
Here is how you make it: Slice all the way through creating circles. You can core them or leave them with a star in the middle. Spread with your choice of topping and add pomegranate seeds. You may also want to offer hemp hearts, chia seeds for “sprinkles”!
Apple Christmas Tree
This is so beautiful that you can even use it as a centrepiece before it gets eaten!
What you need (per tree): 1 Granny Smith Apple, ¼ cup Pomegranate Seeds, 2 Tbsp. Peanut butter or Almond butter, and ½ cup Shredded Coconut
Here is how you make it:
- Slice the apple into quarters and remove the core portion from each quarter.
- Then slice the apple about ¼” thick slices and place on plate as shown in the photo below.
- Add pomegranate seeds or any other small fruit pieces you enjoy for “decorations”.
- Place about 2 Tbsp. of your favourite nut butter at the base of the apple slices as the “tree trunk”. This will be your apple dip.
- Sprinkle shredded coconut along the bottom of your platter or plate as “snow”.
Baked Reindeer Pudding
This pudding is packed with vitamins, minerals, and energy to support growth and a stronger immune system. And if you make a little extra, you can leave it out for the reindeer on Christmas Eve!
What you need:
- 2 cup Steel Cut Oats
- ¼ cup wheat germ
- 1 cup coconut milk (or milk of your choice)
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 1/3 cup hemp hearts
- 10 figs or pitted dates
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 1 Tbsp. cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp. vanilla
- 1 banana
- ½ cup applesauce
Here is how you make it:
- Place all ingredients in a food processor or high powered blender.
- Blend on low at first and increase to medium/medium-high until all ingredients are blended together.
- Pour pudding into a baking dish and bake at 350 F for about 45 minutes or until all is warmed through and top is slightly browned. Serve in small or large bowls with a little yogurt and fruit on top.
And if you are looking to add a little fun to mealtime, perhaps a “Macaroni and Fruit Santa”, a “Taco Christmas Train”, or a stir-fry packed with red and green veggies can be part of your weekly meal plan!
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Contributor
Noelle is a mom of 6 year old twin boys and a 3 year old son. She is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for nutrition, fitness, and all things related to motherhood. Almost three years ago Noelle started her Instagram feed to give moms ideas of ways to make healthy choices for themselves and their little ones. Now in addition to sharing delicious and healthy recipes she talks about aspects of motherhood. From the early days of breastfeeding to grocery shopping with toddlers to making school lunches and everything in between! motherhoodandmeals.com
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