That’s right! Crispy fries, crunchy chips, and sweet treats pioneer the trend for healthy snacks. We are just a couple of days away from our favorite holiday season, and we are already starting the countdown. Isn’t it exciting?
But this also leads us to wonder: what makes this season a favorite among families? Is it the Christmas carols? The chance to see and visit loved ones? The twinkling lights outside the homes? Or maybe the lavish decorations your mom puts on the Christmas tree?
And of course. How could I forget? The treats! Every family celebrates this season in different ways, but no matter how varied they make their Christmas merry, food will always be part of the celebration.
This holiday season is unique because, unlike the previous holidays, we cannot gather and roam around town to sing due to the threat of COVID-19. However, do not fret. Though we cannot gather and visit loved ones who are far away, we still can cook and bake snacks for our families at home. Here are some healthy and cost-friendly treats you might want to consider making:
Fries
What better finger food to serve that would stimulate appetite and just enough (or is it?) to share for everyone than fries? What’s even better is that it is not only yummy but also healthy. You don’t have to worry about the calorie intake. Just sit, relax, and enjoy.
Butternut Squash Fries
If you are a squash- and fries-lover, this one is perfect for you. All you need is a baking oven, salt, cooking spray, and the main ingredient, squash. Once out and into your mouth, you’d instantly taste the feel of Christmas: extraordinarily golden, mostly sweet, and incredibly satisfying. If you still don’t believe me, try this recipe for butternut squash fries and see for yourself.
Bacon Avocado Fries
Have you ever heard of fries made from avocado wrapped in bacon then baked? This low carb snack served with ranch dressing contains 120 calories, 4 g protein, 3 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 0 g sugar, 11 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 190 mg sodium. Healthy, right? This recipe won’t take you a long time to prepare and bake. Indeed, it is time-wise and worthwhile.
Carrot Fries
The sweet taste of carrots also makes it a perfect ingredient to make a healthy snack of fries. You just need to prepare strips of carrots, olive oil, fresh parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. This snack is best served with a Greek yogurt chive dip.
Chips
The krrrrrrr sound on that first bite of a crunchy chip snack is like melodic music to the ears. What’s more, you don’t have to prepare extravagant ingredients to make these healthy snacks. Isn’t that truly a good tiding?
Sweet Potato Chips
Both regular and sweet potatoes are highly nutritious. It is just that sweet potato chips taste more flavorful, and it is not mainstream. These chips are light and crispy, sweet, and salty to the taste.
Carrot Chips
Aside from fries, you can also opt to use carrots as an alternative to potatoes. They are naturally sweet and look especially attractive when baked for a shorter time on high heat as it highlights the bright oranges. All you need are paper-thin sliced carrots, oil, sea salt, cumin, and cinnamon to taste, then bake.
Apple Chips
Apples are also healthy alternatives. Like the carrot chips, they are easy to make and only need three ingredients: apple, sugar, and cinnamon. You can bake these using the oven or an air fryer.
Cookies
You can never go wrong with cookies. Whether these are served fresh from the oven or saved later, rest assured that it will still pacify hunger and encourage other family members to crave for more.
Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
These low-calorie oatmeal cookies topped with nuts, raisins, and chocolate chips, are definitely the go-to snacks that will never let you down. The not so secret baking trick to make the perfect recipe is the use of an old-school ingredient: applesauce. Making it sweet without using sugar is merely replacing it with honey. There are lots of other ways you can make these cookies healthy but still tasty.
Paleo Gingerbread Cookies
Ah! The most classic Christmas cookie of all. Only this time, these gingerbread men are modified to fit the paleo diet, hence its name. Eating these vegan, gluten-free cookies will surely indulge your sweet tooth without feeling guilty after. Interestingly, the dough molds and holds the shape, making it perfect for hanging on your Christmas trees. Aesthetically beautiful and remarkably delicious.
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
You read it right. Chocolate chip cookies can be vegan, too. Instead of the usual eggs and butter, this recipe substitutes butter for melted coconut oil, virgin coconut oil, or neutral-flavored oils such as avocado oil or safflower oil. It also does not use eggs, but the taste does not get compromised. This snack is most suitable for those who have dairy or egg allergies.
Takeaway
These are but only several ideas you can consider to make for the holiday season. Despite this year’s challenges, we can still gather ’round as a family and share stories while consuming our favorite Christmas treats. Hope you have a merry and sweet little Christmas.
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