Hershey Kiss Countdown to Christmas Calendars, Cookie Exchanges, and Peppermint Ice cream... These are all such a fun and important part of celebrating the holiday season... However, the other day I noticed we were having more melt downs, messes and all-in-all mayhem at Good Seeds central. We're a firm believer that if our family is eating a well-balanced and healthy diet, there's room for a yummy dessert  - but I took a step back and realized... the sugary and processed desserts were starting to take over.... YIKES.

 So operation make them smile with some fun and healthy treats that aren't loaded with sugar is now in effect at our household. I can tell you that my girls have had a lot of fun making and eating candy canes out of strawberries and bananas the last two days for their desserts - but we tried this today and it was a huge hit and I thought I would share which we happily found from Dr. Sears:

Ingredients:

• Bananas (Note 1 banana makes about 3 snowmen)
  
• Grapes
• Carrot (tip of the carrot works nicely - and you'll have your peeling and slicing done for lunch or dinner later!)
  
• Apple (Note each hat is one apple slice cut in half)
  
• Bamboo skewers
• Mini chocolate chips (Use dark chocolate chips for some antioxidants!)
  
• Pretzel sticks

Instructions:

1. You will need three thick slices of bananas, a grape, a sliver of a carrot and a triangular piece of apple for each snowman. (Tip: Use the bamboo skewer to poke a hole in the apple, so it will be easier to assemble.)
2. Let your kids slide the fruit onto the skewer. Then use the carrot slivers for the noses, the mini chocolate chips for the eyes and buttons, and use the pretzel sticks for the arms.
   

-& ENJOY-

One of our favorite activities in the fall is going apple picking with the wee ones. The changing of the leaves, hayrides and the girls fresh eyes and excitement brings back childhood memories and solidifies why my husband and I decided to start our family.

After we get a bushel of apples and maybe a pumpkin or two, we come home... and after everyone has (hopefully) taken a bit of a nap - we make our first fall crisp. I love crisps because they are so easy and absolutely delicious. And I'll admit it freely and willingly - I'm pretty sure I do not possess the mad skills to pull off a homemade apple pie from scratch....

So here's our family's recipe that has become a familiar treat and is forming into a tasty little tradition!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup oats
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 3 cups peeled, cored and sliced apples
• 1/2 sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly butter/spray an 8-inch square pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, oats, flour and butter. Mix until crumbly. Place half of crumb mixture in pan. Spread the apples evenly over crumb mixture. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and top with remaining crumb mixture.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown.

-& ENJOY!-

We found this adorable recipe from our friends at Food Junction. They have the cutest ideas to help inspire the pickiest little eaters - and we will be posting more of our favorites in the upcoming months! This is such a cute idea for a healthy Easter inspired dessert.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup diced ripe papaya
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 cup curd/ plain yogurt
• black grapes for eyes
• green grapes for nose & bow tie
  
• marshmallows cut and shaped for teeth & ears
• chocolate vermicelli  for whiskers and eyebrows

Directions:

• Blend 1/4 cup diced ripe papaya with 1 tsp sugar and 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• Add yogurt to ramekin or other small circular dish
• Cut 1 black or dark purple grape in half and place for eyes
• Cut 2 green grapes in half and place one half for nose and two other halves for bow tie (eat the last half ;0)
• Cut marshmallow in half and pinch into shape of two ears
• Cut bottom third off another large marshmallow then cut in half - flatten into rectangular shapes and place teeth below green grape nose
• Use scissors to cut chocolate vermicelli into 2 eyebrows and six whiskers - place and voila! hello Easter bunny!

Tips:

• For a cooler treat -consider freezing this after you've got your bunny all decorated
• Spray PAM on your kitchen sheers so they will easily glide through cutting up the marshmallows and vermicelli