Tis’ the Season for Snacking!
Contributed by Amy Russell, Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator
HO HO HO ! Tis’ the season for snacking!
The holiday season is in full swing, which means so many yummy treats. While holiday cookies and candy canes get you into the Holiday spirit they are often loaded with sugars and lack all those good nutrients.
To avoid the sugar overload making healthy snacks with the kids can help get them into the festive spirit, all the while balancing out those holiday sugars and providing those wonderful nutrients.
Making healthy treats for or with the kiddos can help get them more involved in the kitchen aiding in making a better snack choice, trying new foods and making great memories.
Below are some great snack options and some personal favorites using common fruits, vegetables, and household ingredients. Enjoy!
Banana Snowmen:
Banana snowmen
Popsicle sticks or a skewer
Banana
Green grapes
Strawberries
Mini chocolate chips (we used Enjoy Life chocolate chips)
Small slices of carrot
Directions:
Slice the banana into 1/2-inch pieces. Place three of the slices on the popsicle stick or skewer.
Cut the stem off the strawberry and add it to the skewer as the “hat.”
Skewer half a green grape on top of the strawberry.
Poke two mini chocolate chips into the top banana slice for the eyes, and two or three into the second banana slice for the buttons.
Cut a small triangle out of the carrot slice and poke into the snowman’s head as the nose.
Grinch Fruit Kabobs
This snack is one of my favorites’ because it’s so simple! Just stick the Strawberry, banana slice and green grape onto a toothpick or popsicle stick and it looks like the Grinch wearing a hat!
Celery Reindeer
Celery Reindeer
Celery is a great crunchy snack that is loaded with fiber and Vitamin C and lots of other antioxidants. Adding a low sugar peanut butter or another type of nut butter to the middle, pretzels for the antlers, a fresh raspberry for the nose, and the kiddos will be excited to snack on this green treat!
Healthy Acadia’s Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators offer year-round cooking and nutrition classes in partnership with schools and organizations throughout Hancock and Washington counties. To learn more or schedule a class, contact Shannon (shannon.cherry@healthyacadia.org) or Andrea (andrea.coffin@healthyacadia.org) in Washington County, or Abby (abby.miller@healthyacadia.org) or Amy (amy.russell@healthyacadia.org) in Hancock County.