5 Healthy Xmas Snacks for your Minis
Do you love making holiday treats but hate the focus on candy and sugar-filled snacks? Well, these 5 healthy Christmas treats are kid pleasers that are yummy & guilt-free during the holiday season!
1. Holly Jolly Santa Waffles
This Santa waffle is a great way to get some extra fruit on the kiddos' plates at breakfast! And it doesn't take a lot of skill to throw this together...win-win!
Click here to read the full recipe on Van’s Foods
Ingredients
Gluten-Free Waffles (store-bought from your local grocery store)
Apple
Cinnamon
Strawberries
Bananas
Blueberries
Raspberries
Instructions
Toast the waffles per packaging instructions.
Slice strawberry halves and place them around the top of your waffle to create Santa's hat.
Next, cut the banana into thin slices. Place a row of slices along the bottom of the strawberry hat to create the fur lining. Place a single banana slice at the tip of Santa's hat. Place remaining slices around the sides of the waffle and at the bottom to create Santa's beard.
Place two blueberries on the waffle for Santa's eyes.
Finish things off with a rosy red raspberry nose.
2) Healthy Pita Christmas Trees
Plant a forest of pita bread trees on your table in less than 30 minutes by topping wedges with store-bought guacamole.
Click here to read the full recipe from Betty Crocker
Ingredients
4 flavored or plain pita folds or pita (pocket) breads (about 6 inches in diameter)
16 thin pretzel sticks, halved
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup guacamole
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1/4 teaspoon garlic-pepper blend
1/4 cup very finely chopped red capsicum
Instructions
Cut each pita fold into 8 wedges. Insert pretzel stick half into center of bottom of each wedge to form "tree trunk."
In small bowl, mix sour cream, guacamole, parsley and garlic-pepper blend. Spread about 1 teaspoon sour cream mixture on each pita wedge.
Blot capsicum with paper towel to remove excess moisture. Sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon capsicum on each wedge or arrange to form a garland. If desired, cover and refrigerate up to 8 hours before serving.
3. Banana Snowman
With all the delicious sweet delights doing the rounds there’s definitely room for something a littler healthier. These little banana snowmen are a healthy snack that are still festive and fun for the kids.
Nutrition note: A fun and nutritious Christmas treat providing a natural energy boost for the kids with essential B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, fibre and antioxidants.
Click here to read full recipe from One Handed Cooks
Ingredients
2 bananas
1/4 of a carrot
Handful of currents or sultanas chopped
3 strawberries
6 grapes
6 skewers
Instructions
Cut the bananas into thick slices (approx. 9 rounds per banana) -
Peel the carrot and cut into small triangular slivers for a pointy nose -
Trim the stem from the strawberries and then cut in half. You should get two hats out of each strawberry -
Cut the grapes in half. (We only used the smooth half and ate the stem end) -
To assemble, thread three slices of banana on to each skewer followed by a strawberry hat and grape half. Gently press the currents into the banana slices to create eyes and the buttons on the body then add the carrot nose -
Serve immediately
Tip: Chop everything up, place all the bits in separate bowls and then have the kids assemble the snowmen. -
Safety note: Please be careful with using sharp skewers when cooking with children. If necessary cut or break off the pointy end to avoid injury.
4. Watermelon Christmas Trees
These watermelon trees don’t only look fabulous on the plate, they are also healthy and guilt-free for the festive season!
Read the full recipe from One Handed Cooks here
Ingredients
¼ of whole seedless watermelon
1/3 cup favourite yoghurt
Instructions
Cut the watermelon into slices, and then cut each slice in half
To make the base of the Christmas tree, slice the watermelon rind into thirds and then trim off the pieces from either side so you are left with one “tree trunk” in the middle
Place your Christmas trees on a lined tray that will fit in the freezer
Add yoghurt to a piping bag and decorate your trees. If you don't have a piping bag, simply fill a snap lock plastic bag with yoghurt and cut a very small piece from the corner
Place tray in the freezer and allow the yoghurt to freeze for 1-2 hours
5. Snowman Popcorn
Popcorn is not terribly nutritious, yet neither is it terrible for you. The more oil, salt, and butter it is made with, the worse it is for you. Below mentions the best way of preparing popcorn being to air pop it and then add some extra virgin olive oil and sea salt for taste.
Ingredients
1 cup popcorn, unpopped kernels
Instructions
Pop popcorn as directed on package.
Using a black marker, draw the snowman face and buttons; using an orange marker, make his nose. Tie a ribbon around the cup for his scarf.
Scoop in the popcorn and enjoy your snowman in a cup!