Heatlhy Options During the Holidays....

It can be so easy and tempting to head for the sweet and salty treats over the holidays, or to just plain over indulge.  

Here are some kid friendly alternatives to add to your recipe catalogs that are both fun and healthy!  

Crunchy Cereal Clusters 

• 3 cups Yogurt-Burst Cheerios or similar whole-grain cereal
• 1/2 cup chopped dried strawberries
• 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

Place paper liners in 24 mini muffin cups. Toss the whole-grain cereal and chopped dried strawberries in a medium bowl. Melt the white chocolate in a microwave on high for a minute, stirring it frequently. Combine with the cereal and strawberry mixture. Spoon into prepared cups and refrigerate until the clusters are firm, about 5 minutes.

 Party Time Yogurt Pops 

• 2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup assorted berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, chopped strawberries)
• 5 pretzel rods, halved, or 10 baked snack stick crackers

In a large bowl gently stir together the yogurt and fruit. Spoon into 4-ounce ice-pop molds or 3-ounce paper cups. Cover molds or cups with foil; use a sharp knife to cut a small hole in the foil and insert cut side of pretzel rod or snack stick. Freeze until firm. Remove foil and mold or cup before serving.

Store for up to a month. Makes 6 pops.

 Sweet Potato Chippers

• 2 medium sweet potatoes
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with vegetable cooking spray.

Wash potatoes. Cut into thin slices, and place in large bowl. Pour oil onto the palms of your hands. Gently rub oil onto sweet-potato slices, tossing to combine. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon, tossing in bowl to coat evenly.

Place slices in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes. Turn chips over and bake until slightly crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to plate; cool 5 minutes and serve.

  

Nuts About Popcorn Snack Mix

• 1 package (6 to 7 cup yield) plain microwave popcorn
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 2 - 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups potato sticks
• 1 1/2 cups peanuts or almonds
• 1 cup mixed dried fruit

Pop popcorn according to package directions. Pour popcorn into a very large bowl; coat lightly with cooking spray.  Sprinkle popcorn with Parmesan cheese; toss gently to coat. Stir in potato sticks, peanuts, and dried fruit.

Fruit-astic Salsa

• 3    Roma tomatoes, halved, seeded, and very coarsely chopped
• 1/2  small  red onion, cut up
• 1/4  small  cantaloupe, seeded, peeled, and cut up
• 1    Gravenstein or pink lady apple, cored and cut up
• 1/2  medium  green sweet pepper, seeded and cut up
• 1  or 2  fresh jalapeno chile peppers, seeded and cut up*
• 1  Tbsp.  sugar
• 1  Tbsp.  lime juice
• 1/4  tsp.  salt
• 1/4  tsp.  ground cumin
•   Tortilla chips or sweet pepper wedges

In a food processor bowl combine tomatoes, onion, cantaloupe, apple, green sweet pepper, jalapeno pepper, sugar, lime juice, salt, and cumin. 
Cover and pulse with several off/on turns until chopped. (Or coarsely chop with a knife.) Cover and chill for 1 to 6 hours before serving. Stir well before serving. Serve with chips. Makes 3 cups salsa.

Keep it Sweet and Keep it Spicy

xxoo

Aly