6 Healthy Holiday Treats

It’s the best time of year for spending time with family, and what better way than making holiday-inspired tasty treats together! Some of my favorite holiday memories are when the whole family spent quality time cooking up festive eats and treats for everyone to enjoy. This is a great time for your little ones to join in on the fun and learn a little bit about foods that nourish and take care of their body. 

Don’t worry, there’s still room for hot cocoa and marshmallows, but it’s always good to add in a few tasty treats that are packed with the nutrients your child needs to stay healthy and strong, and they will love eating them too! 

Here is a collection of 6 Healthy Holiday Treats to make this season:

1. Healthy Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies are a very popular cookie for many families during the holiday season. They have those delicious, warming spices and they are just so darn cute! While you can find store-bought gingerbread cookies almost anywhere, why not make them at home? Not only can you infuse your home-made cookies with more good-for-you ingredients, but your kiddos will have a blast baking with you. Try this recipe by A Couple Cooks for Soft Gingerbread Cookies made with unique ingredients like almost butter, whole wheat flour, and applesauce for a more nutritious alternative.
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2. Reindeer Celery Snack

Get the whole family together to make some of Santa’s most helpful and fuzzy friends, his reindeer! This recipe by Keeping the Peas for Reindeer Celery Snacks is a twist on the classic and super popular with little ones. What’s not to love? Creamy peanut butter, salty pretzels, and sweet raspberries all placed on a nutrient-packed piece of celery. Look how cute they turn out! Santa would be proud to have these reindeer fly his sleigh. Sing along to Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer and make a whole fleet of these delicious and nutritious treats.

3. Quick Baked Pears

Pears are a great fruit to have during the fall and wintertime as they’re in peak during these seasons. These Quick Baked Pears found on Health.com is another easy holiday treat that your child will love, and you’ll love too, as it only takes 5 minutes to prep and 6 minutes to bake. You can top this fruity dessert with toasted nuts, oats, or cranberries for an antioxidant-rich dessert that your child will love. Not a fan of pears? No problem. Try this recipe with your favorite apples instead!
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4. Peanut Butter Snowman Sandwiches 

These little Peanut Butter Snowman Sandwiches are simple to make and bring so much joy to whomever’s eating them. Simply cut out the sandwich into two circles, with one smaller than the other for the head. Then you use pretzel sticks as the arms and the crust as the hat and scarf. To finish it off you can add a carrot for the nose and dark chocolate for the buttons and eyes. What could be more fun than a cute little snowman sandwich for lunch? Add extra nutrients with a side of apples or other colorful fruits and veggies and your child has a well-balanced meal with all the fun!
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5.  Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Balls

Who loves peanut butter and chocolate? If you said yes, then try this recipe by Pinch of Yum for Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Balls for the perfect little sweet bite. Inside this peanut butter ball is a healthy cookie dough-like mix with only three ingredients: peanuts, peanut butter, and dates. These naturally sweetened balls of goodness are packed with healthy fats, protein, and antioxidants. They are practically protein balls that taste like a dessert! Plus, your kids will have a ton of fun getting their hands a little dirty rolling the dough into balls and dipping them in chocolate. 
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6. Strawberry Banana Candy Cane

If you’re looking for a really quick and easy holiday treat then there’s nothing better than making a Strawberry and Banana Candy Cane. This brings all the holiday candy cane feels but packed with healthy nutrients to help your child grow healthy and strong. Simply slice bananas and strawberries, then place them on a plate alternating between a slice of strawberry and banana to form a candy cane shape. That’s it! Your little ones will be thrilled to see their final creation, and eat it too.

If you try any of these recipes, make sure to share this blog with friends and family so they can try out these tasty treats too. 

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