Holiday Snacking 101

Let's face it. While we enjoy eating all year round, there is one specific time of year that food takes center stage: the holidays. From the parties to the family get-togethers, the holidays highlight the best and worst in our diets. As adults, we are responsible for teaching our children good eating habits. It is fun to splurge during the holidays on treats, but we also want to ensure we don't overdo it, especially with sugar.                                                                                        

Most children get one to two weeks off for winter/holiday break. During this time, some kids are staying with friends or family, some are home with siblings and others are old enough to take care of themselves. Supplying kids with snacks that aren’t the leftover cookie platters during these breaks requires a must-do attitude and some thinking. “Healthy snacks really can taste good and be good for you. You don’t need sugar or for food to be processed for it to taste good,” says Jenny, a Kansas City mom.                                                                                                           

Because December is full of candy canes, cookies and fudge, here are some fun-for-the-holidays ideas you can prepare for your kids without all the refined sugar.                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Whole Wheat Bagel Wreaths

Multiple versions of these are floating around on different cooking sites. It is easy to dress them up for the holidays, but a favorite in our household is a plain whole wheat bagel, light cream cheese and dried cherries. Dried cherries are full of antioxidants and are sweet like a raisin and tart like a cherry. This easy combo makes a great chewy and healthy snack that kids of school age are able to prepare themselves.                                                                

Graham Crackers

This recipe comes from www.Weelicious.com. Yes, it is easier to go to the store and buy graham crackers; however, this recipe is so simple and makes delicious graham crackers that will last a few months in your freezer. And the taste far surpasses the store bought versions!

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1 t. baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, chilled & cubed
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup water

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a food processor or mixer, combine dry ingredients.
• Add cubed and chilled butter to the mix and pulse/mix until it resembles coarse meal.
• Add honey and water and continue to mix until it all combines.
• Remove and shape the dough into a flat disk and place between two pieces of parchment paper.
• Roll dough out until 1/4 inch thick. Cut into shapes.
• Place cookies on a Silpat or parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
• Cool and serve.

These are a wonderful grab-and-go snack, and every child that tries them loves them. The crackers also can be cut into holiday shapes or just simple shapes like stars, hearts or circles. Feel good about giving these to your child. While there is brown sugar in the recipe, you can read and pronounce all of the ingredients—and typically have them on hand.

Color

Another easy way to incorporate healthy holiday snacks is to color theme your child's snacks. Adding red, green, white and holiday patterns are easy ways to liven up snacks and make kids look forward to eating them. Some easy examples of everyday snacks that can be holiday color themed:

• Sliced red pepper and pea pods/edemame with homemade dill dip
• Dried cherries with pistachios
• Popcorn with dried cranberries and mini green M&Ms                                                                     

Enjoy your holiday season! There is no reason why we all can't enjoy the season without going into January feeling like our eating habits have to change drastically…again.                                                            

Jessica Pflumm is a freelance writer and children’s nutrition advocate. Her blog, www.HappyTummiesKC.wordpress.com, talks about nutrition and allergy-friendly recipes for kids and families. Jessica enjoys spending the holidays with her husband and 2-year-old daughter.