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Cook up some holiday cheer.

Hearty meals and smart holiday snacks.

Turkey-shaped Pancakes

Make one batch of small whole grain pancakes (for the head and wattle) and another batch of large pancakes (for the body).

Cook uncured turkey bacon or bacon that is not preserved. Cut two pieces in half to use for the tail; add sliced fruit between the bacon for the tail feathers. Use blueberries for the eyes and sliced fruit for the snood.

Optional: Make pancake or bacon feet to add to your creation.

Santa Hats

Wash strawberries and remove stems. Slice a banana into discs. Place strawberry upside-down onto banana slice to assemble the hat. Cut off strawberry tip. Add a drop of yogurt to the top of the strawberry, then add a marshmallow.

Sharing meals together when your children are young can set them up for building good eating habits in the years to come.1 When eating together, consume a variety of foods from five main food groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein, and grains.

Be a food role model for your kids by sticking to these basic principles:2

  • Choose whole grains over refined grains.
  • Regularly opt for whole fruits over juice.
  • Eat more vegetables by trying a variety of different colored veggies.
  • Incorporate a mix of proteins (seafood, lean meats, lean poultry, eggs, beans, peas, nuts, seeds, and soy products).
  • Add nutrient-dense dairy sources, such as lower-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese.

Plato tips to help your child stay active:3

 

  • Encourage your kids to play actively several times every day.
  • Limit TV, tablet, and other screen time to less than one hour total per day, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.4
  • Be a role model and stay active yourself. Your child will learn from you that being physically active is fun and beneficial.
  • Make playtime fun for the entire family! Take a walk together, play catch, kick a ball, or dance together.

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Sources:

1Hayes, Dayle, MS, RD. Raise Healthy Eaters in the New Year. EatRight.org. January 3, 2020.

2U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Key Recommendations: Components of Healthy Eating Patterns2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 8th ed. November 21, 2016.

3U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Healthy Habits, Healthy Families. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. September 30, 2013.

4Hill, David, et al. Media and Young Minds. Pediatrics 138, no. 5 (November 2016): 1098-4275.