Making nutritious food choices is a major goal of the USDA's Healthy Schools Wellness Policy. This not only affects the lunchroom, but also means altering the traditional treats served at a classroom holiday party. Though some sugary treats like bowls of chocolate or candy pieces may still be present if it does not violate that school’s wellness policy, there should also be more nutritious options.
Fun Treats with Fruit
Fruits are very versatile and colorful, allowing for a wide variety of creative options. Try mixing and matching hard, soft and citrus fruits for a rainbow fruit salad. Or even slice several different fruits and arrange them on a platter in a holiday theme or shape.
Hard fruits, such as apples or grapes, are ideal for making fruit kabobs. Use a bamboo or plastic toothpick or small skewer to make festive fruit sticks. Add a colored miniature marshmallow or two to compliment the kabob while encouraging children to try the fruit.
Creative Snacks Using Vegetables
Whereas fruit is sweeter and more desired by elementary age children, vegetables sometimes need a creative flare. Veggie sticks with dip works for some children, but putting some creativity into the choices makes it likely more children will try a vegetable they didn’t think would taste good.
Some creative vegetable ideas include:
- Create small holiday characters with vegetables and fruits held together by toothpicks.
- Cut cheese sandwiches with holiday themed cookie cutters and use small vegetable pieces to decorate.
- Bake carrot cake or zucchini bread in small muffin tins.
Other Healthy Options
Healthy choices are not limited to fruits and vegetables. Replace the bag of traditional potato chips with pretzels, popcorn or baked chips. Supply small bags or bowls of trail mix, making sure that there are no children with nut allergies first. Though crackers and cheese sound like an adult appetizer, children also enjoy munching on them, especially if holiday shaped crackers and small bites of cheese are provided. Tubes of yogurt can also be provided, and for warm weather holidays consider freezing them first.
When considering what drink to serve, replace soda with fruit juices. For a bubbly, festive juice add a liter of soda water to 64 ounces of juice. Another fun drink for older children is to create a mixed up punch; ask a few students to each bring a random can of frozen juice and mix them all together in a punch bowl.
When providing healthy alternatives for treats at a school holiday party it can be fun to involve some creativity. A little bit of sugar might be acceptable according to the school’s wellness policy, but adding fruits, vegetables and other nutritious snacks arranged with creative holiday themes can add fun to the party, too.
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