• Member Services
  • (765) 474-3448
7 Healthy Christmas Treats You Can Make with Your Kids7 Healthy Christmas Treats You Can Make with Your Kids7 Healthy Christmas Treats You Can Make with Your Kids7 Healthy Christmas Treats You Can Make with Your Kids
  • About Us
    • Our Story
      • Youth Development
      • Healthy Living
      • Social Responsibility
      • Christian Values
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Strategic Plan
    • Our Locations
      • Creasy Lane
      • Downtown
    • Our Partners
      • Franciscan Health
      • Junior Achievement
      • IU Health
      • Ivy Tech
      • NCHS
    • Leadership
      • Our Staff
      • Board Members
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
      • Share Your Y Story
    • Membership Services
    • Y Blog
  • Programs & Activities
    • Pedal for a Purpose
    • YMCA360
    • Online Reservations
    • Swim Lessons
    • Program Guide
    • Childcare
      • School Year Out of School Time
      • Summer Out of School Time
      • Straight Arrow Day Camp
      • Leaders in Training
      • Robotics Camp
    • Health & Wellness
      • Personal Training
      • Group Fitness
      • Sports
      • Scholarship Program
      • Reaching Your Fitness Goals
    • Select an Age Group
      • Youth
      • Teens
      • Adults
      • Seniors
      • Family
  • Schedules & Events
    • Group Fitness
    • Aquatics / Pool
    • Youth Sports Sessions
    • Events
  • Support the Y
    • Help Someone in Need
    • Support the Y
    • Volunteer
  • Donate
Join the Y
✕
7 Healthy Christmas Treats You Can Make with Your Kids
mom and daughter in Santa hats baking together by a Christmas tree
mom and daughter in Santa hats baking together by a Christmas tree

Merry Christmas from the Y! This is one of the happiest times of the year: gathering with family and friends, wearing cozy sweaters, and sharing yummy foods.


But while we all love Christmas cookies, you may be wondering how to cut back on some of the holiday sugar. If you’re looking for healthy Christmas treats to make with your kids, we have seven adorable (and delicious!) ideas for you.

1. Strawberry Santas

Santas made from strawberries, bananas, cream cheese, and icing
Recipe and photo courtesy of My Kids Lick the Bowl.

Ingredients

  • 12 strawberries
  • 1 banana
  • ¼ cup cream cheese
  • Gel icing

Instructions

  1. Cut off the leaves from strawberry.
  2. Cut a second slice from the top of the strawberry.
  3. Slice a disc from a banana.
  4. Spread one side of the banana with cream cheese for Santa’s beard.
  5. Place the strawberry slice on the serving plate.
  6. Add the slice of the banana on top, cream cheese side down.
  7. Add two gel icing dots on the edge of the banana slice for eyes.
  8. Place the rest of the strawberry on top as the hat.
  9. Repeat for as many Santas as you want.

2. Grinch Fruit Skewers

grapes, bananas, strawberries, and marshmallows on skewers
Recipe and photo courtesy of Clean and Scentsible.

Ingredients & Equipment

  • 10 green grapes
  • 1 banana, cut into 10 slices
  • 10 strawberries
  • 10 mini marshmallows
  • 10 skewers

Instructions

  1. Kids’ safety tip: Cut or break off the pointy end of the skewers.
  2. Put a green grape on each skewer for the Grinch faces.
  3. Place a banana slice on top of each grape.
  4. Cut off the strawberry leaves, then put the strawberries on top of each banana for Grinch hats.
  5. Top off the hats with mini marshmallows.

3. Banana Snowmen

cute snowmen made from bananas, strawberries, carrots, raisins, and grapes
Recipe and photo courtesy of One-Handed Cooks.

Ingredients & Equipment

  • 2 bananas
  • ¼ of a carrot
  • A handful of raisins
  • 3 strawberries
  • 6 grapes
  • 6 skewers

Instructions

  1. Cut the bananas into thick slices (about nine rounds per banana).
  2. Peel the carrot and cut into small triangles for a nose.
  3. Trim strawberry stems and cut in half. You should get two hats out of each strawberry.
  4. Cut the grapes in half. 
  5. To assemble, thread three slices of banana on to each skewer, then a strawberry hat and grape half. 
  6. Gently press raisins into the banana slices for eyes and buttons.
  7. Add the carrot nose, then enjoy these sweet snowmen!
  8. Kid-friendly tip: Chop everything up, place all the bits in separate bowls, and have the kids assemble the snowmen.

4. Frosty the Snowman Sandwiches

snowman made from a circular sandwich, cucumber slices, red bell peppers, raisins, and a carrot
Recipe and photo courtesy of Creative Food.

Ingredients & Equipment

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Deli ham
  • Cheese
  • A baby carrot
  • Raisins 
  • Cucumber slices
  • Red bell pepper slices
  • Circle sandwich cutter

Instructions

  1. Place ham and cheese (or your child’s favorite filling) between bread slices.
  2. Use the circle sandwich cutter to slice away the edges.
  3. Let your child add the baby carrot for Frosty’s nose, raisins for his eyes and mouth, and red bell pepper for his scarf.
  4. Finish the sandwich by adding cucumber slices for Frosty’s hat.
  5. Time for your kiddo to dig in!

5. Watermelon Christmas Trees

Christmas trees made out of watermelon triangles, rinds for the trunk, and yogurt for decoration
Recipe and photo courtesy of One-Handed Cooks.

Ingredients

  • ¼ of a whole seedless watermelon
  • ⅓ cup yogurt

Instructions

  1. Cut watermelon into slices, then cut each slice in half.
  2. To make the base of the tree, slice the rind into thirds and trim pieces from either side so you’ll have one “tree trunk” in the middle.
  3. Place your Christmas trees on a lined tray that will fit in the freezer.
  4. Add yogurt to a piping bag and decorate your trees. If you don’t have a piping bag, simply fill a snap-lock plastic bag with yogurt and cut a small piece from the corner.
  5. Place tray in the freezer and let yogurt freeze for 1-2 hours.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

6. Sweet & Savory Christmas Trees

Christmas trees made from green apple slices, raisins for ornaments, pretzels for the trunk, and cheese for the star
Recipe and photo courtesy of 360FamilyNutrition.

Ingredients

  • A slice of yellow cheese 
  • 5-7 small pretzel sticks
  • 1 green apple
  • 8 raisins

Instructions

  1. Cut green apple into eight slices.
  2. Help your child assemble their Christmas tree: Yellow cheese for the star, pretzel sticks for the tree trunk, and raisins for ornaments.
  3. Repeat this for as many trees as you want!

7. Cheese Christmas Trees

Christmas trees made from cheese wedges, shaved broccoli florets, chili pepper flakes, and yellow pepper (for the star)
Recipe and photo courtesy of Little Food Junction.

Ingredients & Equipment

  • Your child’s favorite cheese
  • Broccoli florets
  • Chili pepper flakes
  • 1 mini yellow pepper
  • Skewers or toothpicks

Instructions

  1. Slice cheese into triangles, then gently skewer them.
  2. Shave broccoli tops, then have your child sprinkle broccoli over the cheese wedges.
  3. Shake a few chili pepper flakes over each wedge.
  4. Carefully slice the pepper into stars, then top cheese wedges.
  5. Serve and enjoy!

We hope you and your kiddos have the healthiest, tastiest Christmas ever!


The Lafayette Family YMCA is a community dedicated to healthy living and social responsibility. For more fitness tips and to stay up to date about YMCA events, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, or visit our website here.

Share

Related posts

Man picking up dumbbell
April 1, 2025

8 Great Strength Training Classes in Lafayette, Indiana


Read more
woman working out next to baby
March 1, 2025

4 Ways to Find Time to Exercise as a Parent


Read more
Woman drinking water after jogging
November 1, 2024

What to Do After a Workout: 9 Cool Down and Recovery Tips


Read more

Select a category

  • Blog
  • Childcare
  • Eating Well
  • Events
  • Family Health
  • Health & Fitness
  • Swimming

Return to All Blogs

Download Our App

The YMCA app lets you register for youth sports and group fitness classes, schedule a personal training session, track your workouts, and more.


Download on the App Store

Get It On Google Play

 

Get in Touch

Do you have a question about our locations, schedules, program, or childcare? We can help. Simply follow the link to contact us.


Locations

Downtown Location
250 Main St. #50B
Lafayette, IN 47901
(765) 838-3605
Hours of Operation

 

Creasy Lane Location
3001 S. Creasy Lane
Lafayette, IN 47905
(765) 474-3448
Hours of Operation

© YMCA. All rights reserved.
Join the Y