The holidays are a perfect time to get kids cooking! When children help out in the kitchen, they  develop important skills they will use for the rest of their lives. It can also help kids learn to choose healthy meals and snacks. In this month's blog, we breakdown tasks that are appropriate for kids at all age levels (with adult supervision, of course) and easy holiday recipes to make together as a family. Keep reading to learn more!

• Watch you cook from some place safe (highchair, playpen, or bouncer)
• Play with plastic measuring cups, spoons, and containers
• Learn to say the names and colors of foods
  
• Smell foods and taste small amounts of foods safe for young children
• Scoop and pour dry ingredients like dried beans and rice

When all other skills are mastered, let your child:

• Follow recipes and make simple meals by themselves
• Cook on a stove top with medium heat to make recipes like Homemade Eggnog

Remember: Every child is different! Yours may be ahead of or behind these suggestions. You know your child best.

• Find more kid friendly kitchen tasks from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Get healthy, budget friendly Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa recipes from SNAP-Ed Connection
• Read our 7 healthy holiday swaps and 10 healthy baking hacks for tips to make your family's favorite holiday foods a little bit healthier.
  

At SNAP4CT we love sweets, but it’s no secret we’re fans of making our favorite foods a little bit healthier. With the holidays right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to share our favorite baking hacks! The swaps listed below will help you cut back on sugar and fat while boosting nutrition. Remember, you can use these tips whether you are making your grandmother’s recipe from scratch or something baked from a box! We've also included recipes that have already been adjusted so you don't have to. Keep reading to learn more!

Reduce the amount by 25%

• Did you know you can reduce the amount of sugar in most baked goods by 25% without noticing any difference? For example, if a recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, reduce the amount to 3/4 cup.
• Works in all baked goods (cookies, brownies, breads, muffins, and more)!
  

Carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes, and beets work great in baked goods. You can try it in these Garden Muffins or Sweet Potato Blueberry Oat Squares.

Making a chocolate cake? Try adding 1 cup of pureed beets (low sodium canned beets work great here) to your favorite box of cake mix or to your own recipe!

You might not realize that frosting is just sugar and fat. Delicious, but not the healthiest!

• Try whipped topping, a dusting of powdered sugar, or fruit (fresh, canned, or frozen will do) on your favorite treats instead of rich frostings.
• If you like to make your own frosting, give one of these tips a try:
  
  • You can use plain, nonfat Greek yogurt to replace some or all of the butter in cake frostings. The frosting will be thinner, but still taste great!
    
  • In recipes that call for cream cheese, use low fat cream cheese in place of full fat.
    

Remember, adding veggies or using whole wheat flour in baked goods will make them slightly healthier, but it won't turn desserts into health foods. While it is totally fine to enjoy unhealthy foods from time to time, remember to use MyPlate as your guide for healthy eating most days. Saving decadent desserts for special occasions like birthdays and holidays and serving smaller portions is another way to make a healthier choice.

• For more tips to make the holidays a little bit healthier, visit 7 Healthy Holiday Swaps and Everything but the Turkey: a Thanksgiving Menu
  
• Learn more about why you should limit added sugar and unhealthy fats in your diet
  
• Get more Healthy Baking Alternatives from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  

Maybe you're really into football. Maybe your team is playing in the Super Bowl this year. Or maybe, like me, you just like to get together with friends and family and eat. Whatever the reason, we have a bunch of recipes that are healthier and cheaper than traditional Super Bowl snacks, but still delish.