The holiday season is accompanied by various treats that we all love to enjoy. To help with your holiday recipe planning, we have compiled a list of foods you can make at home that will provide you with healthier alternatives to snack on over the holidays. Below you will find three recipes that you can use to enjoy with you and your loved ones this holiday season.

Egg Snowmen

These festive snowmen are made out of hard-boiled eggs, carrots and peppercorns – they are sure to be a crowd pleaser for your children. Eggs are a great source of Vitamin D which is essential in helping absorb, carry and deposit calcium in the bone that supports your teeth. The natural crunchiness of carrots helps to scrub your teeth clean like a natural toothbrush. See below for details on how to make these snowmen for your next Holiday meal.

Time: 30 min, Prep: 30 min.

Servings: 6                                

Ingredients:

6 large hard-boiled eggs

6 small hard-boiled eggs

Peppercorns

1 carrot

1 skewer / stick for BBQ

Uncooked pasta

Parsley

Directions:

Peel off the egg shell.  Peel the carrot and cut off the ends. Slice the carrot so that you have 6 round slices from each end that are approximately ½ cm thick.

Cut off the top and bottom of the eggs.

Stick the BBQ skewer through the eggs to make a hole and remove it. Do the same with the two round slices of carrots.

Stick the pasta into the two eggs and the carrot slices.

Snap off the extra pasta that is sticking out of the carrot.

Stick the tip of the skewer in the eggs to make small holes for the eyes, nose and buttons. Place a peppercorn in each hole and a small piece of carrot for the nose. Lastly, stick a parsley sprig on the side for the broom.

Spinach Artichoke Frittata Trees

Dairy products like milk contain calcium, eggs are a source of Vitamin D and leafy greens like spinach are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. These are great healthy snacks for any festive event.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon olive oil

2 cups fresh spinach, torn into small pieces

1/4 marinated artichokes, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced (can used a clove or roasted garlic)

4 large eggs

1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream or milk

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

pinch of salt

optional, a dash of black pepper

butter, to grease mold

Special Supplies Needed:

1 silicone Christmas tree mold

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour olive oil and minced garlic in pan and heat over medium heat until garlic begins to sizzle. Add torn spinach leaves and chopped artichokes and sauté until spinach is wilted. Allow to cool completely.

If using roasted garlic, toss it in with the spinach and artichokes. Whisk together the eggs, whipping cream, Parmesan cheese, salt and black pepper. Toss in the spinach artichoke mixture. Pour an equal amount into each silicone Christmas tree mold cavity.

Set mold on a baking sheet and bake for 24-26 minutes until puffed and slightly browned. Immediately, turn mold over and allow the frittata trees to fall out. They will just fall right out so be careful when you turn it over. Serve immediately.

Grinch Poppers

Have a healthy festive snack that’s good for your teeth with these Grinch Poppers. For a healthier alternative, swap the sugary and sticky marshmallow for another piece of banana.

Ingredients:

Strawberries with tops cut off

Green grapes

Mini marshmallows

Banana cut into slices

Toothpicks

Instructions:

Using a toothpick; arrange starting from bottom to top; grape, banana slice, strawberry and mini marshmallow. Stick toothpicks through all to keep together.

Serve and enjoy!

Note

If you want them to stand up, cut the bottom of the grape to make it flat. Make as many or as few as you want.