Healthy Christmas Treats to Try This Holiday Season!

It can be hard to choose nutritious foods through the holiday season. Fortunately, the following healthy Christmas treats and snacks can make your culinary choices a little easier!

There's a lot to love about the Christmas season, and special family food and meals are definitely a big highlight! Unfortunately, all the emphasis on food can mean a lot of overeating and even a little weight gain. There are things you can do to stay healthy, though. After all, there’s more to baking than a sugar and butter-laden biscuit. Share your own ideas for easy, healthy Christmas treats with others on your favorite family app!

Christmas may be the festive season of delicious food and drinks, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay healthy. Try getting in some physical activity during the holidays, whether it’s a wintery run or a walk with the family. It’s also important not to stress too much as this can lead to ill health. Ensure that you decide what you can do over the holidays and stick to it!

And, while it’s easy to overindulge, remember to think before you eat. This will help you define the difference between what you can and can’t resist. If you decide that you really want more dessert or a treat, try reaching for heart-healthy Christmas snacks like fruit instead. You can also opt for extra veggies at dinner. It’s the little choices you make that can really add up and prevent winter weight gain! 

The idea of cookies being healthy might seem like a contradiction. But there are ways to stay on the wagon and enjoy a delicious treat! Try one of these healthy Christmas cookie recipes to stay on the wagon through the season. 

• Speculoos Cookie - This is one of the best healthy Christmas recipes out there, and it’s vegan-friendly too! Instead of sugar and oil, these cookies are filled with spices, flaxseed, and citrus zest for a nutrient-rich treat. Share this Dutch recipe for a healthy snack with other bakers on FamilyApp!
• Gingerbread Cookie Balls – Few flavors define the season quite like gingerbread, but this version’s better for you than the regular gingerbread man! There are plenty of recipes out there, but choose one that uses dates as a natural sweetener to get a healthy snack. You don’t even need to bake them either!
• Almond Snowballs - These healthy Christmas treats contain an enticing almond flavor that pairs perfectly with maraschino cherries! While they don’t forego butter and sugar, the nuts and coconut add a nutritional punch to this snack.

There’s more to healthy Christmas snacks than simply baking cookies. Instead of reaching for sugar-laden treats, try one of these items for an automatic boost!

• Reindeer Granola – Instead of reaching for something heavy like pancakes or French toast, granola can be a fun seasonal snack. Simply make a yogurt parfait with your granola, aka "reindeer food," for healthy Christmas treats for toddlers! Add some Christmas spices like cinnamon and a few fruits for extra vitamins.
• Dark Chocolate Pistachio Bark – This easy recipe combines not one but two healthy foods! While the pistachios provide protein, the dark chocolate gives an antioxidant boost. Share this easy healthy snack with other parents on your favorite family app!

• Apple Peanut Butter Sandwiches – Your kids might enjoy apples and peanut butter any old time. Add a fun twist by stacking them into sandwiches and making unique cut-outs like a snowman or Christmas tree! This is among the healthy Christmas treats for a school party that will impress. Also, you don't have to bake it!
• Nice Cream – Ice cream doesn’t have to be the kind of treat full of sugar and spice and everything nice! Try making "nice cream" instead. You can use bananas as a base and add the festive flavor of peppermint for a truly seasonal Christmas treat.

There are so many snacks and treats around during the holiday season that it can be hard to resist. Fortunately, there are ways that you can stay healthy during Christmas and indulge in more nutritious treats. Do you have any favorite healthy Christmas treats? Share your recipes with us in our comments! There’s no doubt we’ll all indulge a little bit, but healthier choices can make for a better holiday.