Playful & Light Holiday Treats

As we make our way through one more month of holiday treats, I wanted to bring in a little fun food play for my kids that wasn’t solely focused on candy canes and sugar cookies. We love our traditions centered around sweet treats, but I also want to have a few activities that include fruits and veggies. Below are Pinterest finds that keep the theme decidedly where it should be, on food, but freshen things up a bit. 

Instead of heavy and sweet, these recipes are playful and light. By playful, I do indeed mean that they encourage kids to play with their food. In this case, it is the perfect party-friendly kids’ activity. Structured food play can also be an excellent resource for picky eaters. Getting picky eaters to create with food is a great non-threatening way to build exposure and familiarity. Having friends partake in the fun removes even more hesitation that might be associated with some foods.

A few of the following recipes include yogurt. Our tried and true favorite yogurt is a local one, Graziers, by Sierra Nevada Cheese Company (http://www.sierranevadacheese.com). The milk is sourced from local grass-fed cows and is traditionally cultured making the most delicious yogurt. I always look for grass-fed dairy products because their nutritional value is richer in harder to find vitamins and minerals. We have tried a lot of grass-fed yogurts and Graziers is the top pick for both my children. Use Graziers yogurt in the dip for the “Cucumber Trees” and to top the strawberry “Santa Hats.”

Strawberry Banana Santa Hats
(adapted from happyhealthymama.com)
• 1 banana, sliced
• 8 strawberries, hulled
• ¼ cup Graziers plain or vanilla whole milk yogurt

Dip the top of a hulled strawberry into yogurt. Spread a small amount of yogurt on a banana slice. Press a hulled strawberry into the yogurt. Place the “Santa Hat” on a tray. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries and banana slices until all are complete.

Cookie Cutter Apple Sandwiches
(adapted from healthylittlefoodies.com)
• 1 apple
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter

Slice the apples into rounds to desired thickness. Arrange in sets of two of about the same size. Use holiday cookie cutters to remove the core from the center of each set. Spread one apple slice from each set with peanut butter. Place the second slice on top and enjoy your sandwich.

Banana Snowmen
• 1 banana
• 1 apple
• 8 pretzel sticks
• 16 cacao nibs
• 4 wooden skewers

Slice banana into 12 uniform circles. Slide three banana slices onto each skewer. Slice apple into eight slices and then cut each slice in half horizontally. Place halved apple slice on top of banana skewer as a hat. Place two pretzel sticks on either side of the middle banana slice on each skewer as arms. Use two cacao nibs as eyes and two as buttons on the lower
banana slices

Cucumber Trees
(adapted from eatsamazing.co.uk)
Makes eight servings
• 1 large carrot
• 1 whole cucumber
• toothpicks

Cut carrot into eight pieces. These are the tree trunks. Using a vegetable peeler, cut long strips from the cucumber. Carefully fold cucumber strip back and forth, starting with small folds and getting gradually bigger with each one, until you have created a tree shape. Push the folds together, and secure with a toothpick. Push the toothpick into one of the carrot pieces, big fold side down. Adjust cucumber folds as needed, so they look like trees.

Dip for eating your veggie trees:
Use 1 cup whole milk yogurt and a packet of purchased ranch seasoning or make ranch seasoning by mixing in 1 tablespoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon dried dill, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and ½ teaspoon salt.

Localicious is a monthly column celebrating food in the North State. If you would like to suggest a food-related business or organization, email us at localicious@northstateparent.com.