Healthy Holiday Snacks!

It takes great will power to stay away from treats this time of year. Office parties, celebrations with friends, and family get-togethers all pose a threat to one’s diet. While adults can entertain their palette with a selection of healthier choices, children may easily be distracted from a balanced meal by treats and sweets. In order to ensure your whole family has access to nutrition, here are some fun, healthy, holiday-oriented snacks you can provide!

Pita Tree Appetizers "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 bell pepper with paper towel to remove excess moisture. Sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon bell pepper on each wedge or arrange to form a garland. If desired, cover and refrigerate up to 8 hours before serving." From Live Better America!

Snowman on a Stick "For each snowman, you will need three thick slices of banana, a grape, a sliver of carrot, and a triangular piece of apple. (Tip: Poke a hole in the apple piece with a bamboo skewer first to make assembly easier.) Have your kids slide the fruit onto the skewer, then use the carrot slivers for noses, mini chocolate chips for eyes and buttons, and pretzel sticks for arms." From Spoonful!

 Frosty Sandwich “To make Frosty all you really need is a circle cookie cutter. This Frosty is a ham and cheese sandwich, but feel free to choose your preferred fillings :) I cut the bread, cheese and ham with the cookie cutter. I placed the cheese on top. For the face Frosty has a carrot nose that I cut with a knife and mini chocolate chips for his eyes and mouth. The hat is cucumber and the scarf is red bell pepper slices.” From Creative Food!

Edible Fruit Tree "Using the cookie cutters create various shapes out of the melon slices. Attach toothpicks to a Styrofoam cone. Attach one piece each of a fruit to a toothpick. (Think free-form; as the tree starts building you will know more about which fruit combinations are looking better and how densely packed you want your tree to be). Continue building the tree as dense as you want! Use cilantro leaves as grass garnish." From Ginger and Garlic!

'Tis the season!

During the holiday season, just like in America, many other countries have unique traditions. Children tend to think that everywhere celebrates the same, so for parents, this time of year is perfect to teach your children about other cultures!

Here are some fun facts about other countries and cultures that you can share with your children!

• In Sweden, Norway and some areas of Finland, one of the biggest days on celebration in December is St. Lucia’s Day. This day marks the start of the holiday season and is mean to bring light and hope during the darkest time of year! 
• In Australia, the holidays fall around the middle of the summer! Children believe that when Santa comes to Australia, he gives the reindeer a rest and uses kangaroos!
• In Holland, the most important day for children is December 5th, or the eve of St. Nicholas’ Day! This holiday, Sinterklaas, or Santa Claus, comes to town to deliver presents to children.
• For Chinese families, the most popular time to celebrate is during the Chinese New Year! This is a time to honor ancestors and deities and gives families the opportunity to get together.
• Eid Al Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice, is celebrated by Muslims on the 10th day of the month of the lunar calendar to commemorate the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son for God. Today an animal is sacrificed and the meat is shared with family, friends Muslims or non-Muslims, as well as the poor members of the community.
• Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, a holiday honoring the Maccabees victory over King Antiochus, who forbid Jews to practice their religion. For eight nights, Hanukkah is celebrated with prayer, the lighting of the menorah, and food. A menorah has nine candles, a candle for every night, plus a helper candle. 
• On December 26, Kwanzaa is celebrated. It is a holiday to commemorate African heritage. Kwanzaa lasts a week during which participants gather with family and friends to exchange gifts and to light a series of black, red, and green candles, which symbolize the seven basic values of African American family life that are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

Every country has their own traditions surrounding the winter (or summer if you’re south of the equator) holidays!

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