During the holiday season, America’s favorite snack food brands like to get festive, and who can blame them?
Oreos with orange filling for Halloween and red filling for Christmas are more fun! The problem is when they go overboard and they sacrifice quality for novelty’s sake, marketing unhealthy and in some cases, gross-sounding foods to their customers in the spirit of the holidays. If you get excited for pumpkin and peppermint flavored everything but want the fun without all the guilt, here are seasonal commercial foods to avoid and some healthy holiday snack food alternatives that you can make at home!
1. Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
Photo via Junk Food Guy
Ditch these soft, sugary cookies that will leave you feeling unsatisfied for this light but filling Pumpkin ‘Cheescake’ Mousse from Dashing Dish. One serving of the mousse has less calories than one cookie.
2. Kraft Jet-Puffed PeppermintMallows
photo via Alexander Kirk
Instead of microwaving up a cup of processed hot chocolate and pouring in the mini PeppermintMallows, why not try this tasty, healthier recipe from Shape for Skinny Peppermint Mocha.
3. Hershey’s Kisses Pumpkin Spice
photo via Carrie
Avoid overindulging in these festive Hershey’s candies and take the trail mix route – you’ll get the same yummy pumpkin flavor in a more satisfying and filling way. Try this fall-themed trail mix recipe from Beard and Bonnet for Gluten Free and Vegan Pumpkin Spice Trail Mix.
4. Roast Turkey Flavor Pringles
photo via Meg
Admittedly, roast turkey is a strange flavor for chips, and there are definitely better, healthier ways to snack on turkey. Here’s a perfect and quick alternative for fast snacking: take pretzel rods and wrap 1 slice of turkey around each one. Add a sliver (About the width of the pretzel) of cheddar cheese – you can use less because of its strong taste – for an extra pop of flavor. It takes only a few minutes and you can enjoy a salty turkey snack that’s much better for you without all the processing.
Photo via Meal Makeover Moms
5. Frosted Sugar Cookie Pop-Tarts
Photo via Mr. Breakfast
Why eat sugar cookie-flavored Pop-Tarts covered in frosting, when you can eat the real thing? Sugar cookies in general may not have the best reputation, but Dashing Dish has a recipe for Skinny Sugar Free Sugar Cookies that are the perfect alternative!
Do you have any healthy alternatives to the caloric holiday treats? Share them below.
I make these meringue cookies called peppermint nightie-nights every year. The sugar content is admittedly high, but they are low in fat and if you use dark chocolate in them you get some antioxidant action:
http://scrumptiousgruel.wordpress.com/2011/12/27/sleep-tight-and-have-chocolate-dreams/
Thanks for the comment, Ellen! Those cookies look amazing and would definitely be great for the holidays too! 🙂