by Denise Calaman

Created on: December 21, 2011   Last Updated: December 26, 2011

Santa is gearing up and getting ready for his big sleigh ride on Christmas Eve.  Children are excited and can’t wait to leave him milk and cookies.  But after quite a few houses Santa probably gets tired of the traditional treat that is so often left for him so this year why not try serving Santa Claus something new?  Maybe yours is a health conscious family and as a family you would like to see Santa eat healthier?  Mrs. Claus may appreciate that so here are some healthier alternatives to Santa’s traditional milk and cookie treats. 

Rice Krispie High Energy Bars

Follow directions to prepare traditional Rice Krispie Treats.  Before spreading the finished cereal treat into a pan add the following ingredients:

 ¼ C sunflower seeds

¼ C peanuts, walnut pieces or slivered almonds

¼ C raisins or cranberries (or any type of dried fruit with larger fruit chopped into small pieces)

Dash of sea salt

Dash of cinnamon

Once you’ve mixed the healthy ingredients into a pan allow the Rice Krispie treats to cool.  Once cool, cut into 2x2 squares.  Place one treat on a plate with some apple slices and a glass of skim milk.  Santa will think these treats are delicious.  He won’t even realize that they are a healthy alternative to traditional Rice Krispie treats.  While the treats are still prepared with butter and marshmallow the addition of nuts will provide Santa with energy and the dried fruits and cinnamon will provide him with antioxidant protection. The sea salt will help him guard against infections. 

If you find that Santa Claus still looks forward to his traditional cookie treats that your family leaves for him here is a healthy alternative to his traditional sweet treats: a low fat cookie recipe that is delicious. These cookies will give him energy and provide him with antioxidant protection for his long journey.   

Applesauce Spice Cookies

½ C butter or margarine

1 C white sugar

1 C chunky applesauce

1 t vanilla

1 t baking soda

2 C baking flour

1 t salt

1 C unsalted nuts (sunflower seeds, peanuts, etc)

1 ½ t cinnamon

1 t apple pie spice

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl cream together butter, sugar and vanilla.

Add applesauce to mixture.

In another mixing bowl mix flour, cinnamon, baking soda together.  Add to butter/sugar mixture.

Stir nuts into cookie dough mixture.

Shape dough into one inch balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. 

Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Take cookies out of the oven and place on waxed paper to cool. 

Sprinkle tops with apple pie spice while cookies are still warm. 

If Santa is tired of the same old milk and cookie treats maybe his reindeer are tired of all the carrots they find left for them on Christmas Eve night.  Here is a recipe for reindeer that they find absolutely delicious and the recipe has an added benefit.  It helps attract the reindeer to your house.

Magical Reindeer Mix

Ingredients:

1 C quick cooking oats

1 T peanuts

1 T sunflower seeds

1 T glitter

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients together. 

Sprinkle magical reindeer mix over your front lawn on Christmas Eve.  The glitter will help Santa’s reindeer see your house from high in the sky as the glitter will shine in the moonlight.  If there is any leftovers birds will enjoy them. 

*Note to Parents:  You may substitute other natural ingredients for the peanuts and sunflower seeds such as dried fruits although using raisins in your recipe isn’t a good idea if you have a dog(s).  Raisins and grapes are extremely toxic to dogs. 

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