Since when did Holidays become synonymous with bad eating choices? Probably when we realized that what we shouldn’t eat every day tastes that much better when we have an excuse and a theme. But holidays can be a little nerve wracking for us health conscious moms. We meticulously plan meals, grocery shop, and prepare healthy foods for our families, only to have all that work undone by the sugar coated class party. (No judgment Zebra Cake mom, they are truly delicious.) So I have come up with a few ideas of fun holiday themed treats that are as healthy as they are delicious.
Saint Patrick’s Day is all about green, luck, rainbows, and pots of gold. So I came up with two recipes: Rainbow Fruit Cups and a Shamrock Pudding.
Rainbow Fruit Cups:
Vanilla Yogurt
Strawberries
Oranges
Bananas
Kiwi
Blueberries
Red grapes
Simply fill the bottom of clear plastic cups with a little vanilla yogurt. This creates the clouds at the bottom of the rainbow. Next, fill the cup with the chopped fruit a layer at a time to create a rainbow. Grab a spoon and enjoy!
Shamrock Pudding:
2 Ripe avocados
2 ripe bananas
1 t vanilla extract
2 T honey
Blend all ingredients together in a food processor or high-powered blender.
Easter is all about bunnies, eggs, and springtime! So I have a recipe for Easter egg fruit pops, and a rainbow spaghetti nest recipe.
Easter Egg Pops:
1 pound frozen fruit of choice (I used strawberries)
2 Cups coconut milk
Lollipop sticks
Easter eggs with the small holes in the bottom
Food syringe (I used a baby medicine syringe!)
Blend ingredients together.
Fill eggs with fruit blend about ¾ full through the hole.
Push sticks through hole and freeze 3 hours.
Spaghetti Nests:
1 package whole-wheat spaghetti
Food Coloring
Spaghetti Sauce
Spaghetti Topping of Choice that is somewhat egg shaped – fresh mozzarella balls, grape tomatoes, meatballs, etc. I used mushrooms.
Cook whole package of pasta, al dente.
Rinse in cool water and separate noodles into several large plastic bags or Tupperware.
Add a few drops of food coloring to each bag and stir. Add a few drops at a time until desired color is achieved.
Let color sit for several hours or overnight.
Preparing to eat:
Rinse noodles and toss together.
Create nests on a plate with the noodles.
Microwave noodles for approx. 30 seconds.
Add hot spaghetti sauce and toppings to the nest and serve.
Spring Break Treats
Since spring break is all about the grab-and-go snacks that don’t cost an arm and a leg, I have come up with a list of snacks that work well for your road trip as well as your destination.
Snack Bag Ideas:
Microwaved popcorn. (Popped before you leave!)
Nuts – Choose dry roasted or unsalted
Trail Mix
Veggie Chips
Dried Fruits
Cooler Ideas:
Frozen Grapes
Carrots with individual hummus cups
Apples with individual peanut butter cups
Celery with a ranch Greek yogurt dip
Pickles in zip lock bags
Hard-boiled eggs
I recommend placing snack items in individual containers or baggies to prevent mindless eating, and keep you and the kids from eating everything before you get out of the neighborhood!
I hope that these ideas will help your family stay on track during the holidays, while still enjoying a fun treat! Bon Appetite!