The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and, let’s face it, plenty of delicious treats. While indulging in festive delights is part of the fun, it’s also essential to keep our little ones nourished with wholesome snacks.
In this blog post, we are turning snack time into a holiday celebration with creative and nutritious ideas that will have your kids reaching for more.
Let’s add lots of color, texture, and yummy taste to these combinations. Ask your little ones to help you create these delicious snacks too get them more involved in the kitchen too.
Get ready to jingle munch with these festive and kid-friendly snack ideas!
Reindeer Apple Slices
- Slice apples horizontally and turn them into reindeer faces.
- Use almond or peanut butter as the base and to keep them from sliding off of the plate.
- Add pretzel sticks as antlers, raisins for eyes, and a red grape or cranberry for Rudolph’s red nose.
It’s a nutritious and adorable way to add a little extra fun with the classic apples and nut butter snack. The apple is a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
We love that the nut butter adds a little extra protein and fat to help make the snack a little more filling. Don’t shy away from adding a little cup of extra nut butter on the side too for dipping!
Have your kiddo help you by scooping and spreading the nut butter and choosing where to place the pretzel sticks, raisins, and fruit for the nose. Let them get creative with this snack!
Snowflake Pretzels
- Dip pretzels in white yogurt and sprinkle with coconut flakes to create snowflake pretzels.
- Pop them in the freezer for about an hour to help the yogurt stick on the pretzel and firm up.
We love using Greek yogurt for an extra protein boost too! These festive treats are not only visually appealing but also offer a satisfying crunch and extra texture with the coconut too.
Arrange them in a tin or tupperware container for a snack that’s easy to grab and go.
A great way to get your kid involved is by letting them help dip the pretzels or have them sprinkle the coconut too. It may get messy but that is how kids learn! Coconut is a fun addition that exposes your child to a texture that may not be commonly used in the foods they regularly eat.
Holiday Veggie Platter
- Create a colorful and festive veggie platter with red, green, and yellow vegetables.
- Arrange cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, broccoli, cauliflower, and multi-colored bell pepper strips in the shape of a wreath.
- Add a small bowl of yogurt-based dip in the center for a tasty and healthy holiday snack.
One of our favorite ways to add a nutrition boost to a homemade classic ranch dip is by combining two cups of plain unflavored Greek yogurt with 1 packet of dry ranch powder. Stir well and you have a wonderful blend of a protein-rich dip that is not only tasty but nutritious as well!
We love doing this same combination but with whatever colors are associated with the holiday.
Your kiddo can help by mixing the ranch packet into the yogurt or by helping you lay out the veggies on the platter as well. When they are helping you this is a great opportunity to teach them the “why” behind eating these foods. Use statements such as “protein in this yogurt helps your body build strong bones and strong muscles so that you can play” or “these colorful veggies add lots of super power properties that can do things such as help your eyes see and heart beat.”
Christmas Tree Fruit Kabobs
- Stack kiwi, grapes, and strawberries on skewers to create Christmas tree fruit kabobs.
- Arrange the skewers in the shape of a tree and use a star-shaped piece of pineapple at the top.
This snack not only looks like a festive tree but also provides a variety of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. A festive take on the old school saying “eat the rainbow”!
To make this snack more filling with an extra nutrition boost, add a side of protein such as cheese cubes, cheese sticks, or a side of nuts.
If your child is ready for a more coordinated activity, have them help you slide the fruit onto the skewers carefully. Or have them take mini cookie cutters and cut out festive shapes with a slice of cheese to add an even more festive flair to this snack.
This holiday season, turn snack time into a festive and nutritious adventure with these creative ideas. By incorporating a touch of holiday magic into healthy snacks, you can encourage your kids to enjoy nutritious eating while putting a unique spin on some classic snacks to embrace the festive season.
We also love getting our little ones involved in the kitchen by helping us put these snacks together! These festive treats will make snack time merry and bright for your little ones. Happy snacking!
This article is written by Amy McMahon MS, RD, LDN who is a mom herself and passionate about helping families optimize their nutrition in a non-stressful and no-judgement way.
Did you know you can likely work with Amy and it would be covered in full by your health insurance? Call us today at 802-222-6907!
