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!