Keeping the Holidays Balanced

By: Lisa Gilbert

At COOKSMART we’re all about balance.  We teach the kids that there are “most-of-the-time foods” and there are “special-treat foods”.  Around the holidays the special ones are in plentiful supply and it can be tough to keep it balanced, but it’s ok to let them indulge from time-to-time.  In fact, if it’s all healthy, healthy, healthy all the time, some kids might over-indulge when given the chance to have a treat. 

The absolute BEST is when you can find a food or a recipe that’s both fun AND healthy and power balls are just one example of that.  Fun to make and potentially one of the easiest recipes; just combine a cup of oats, ½ cup nut butter (or no-nut butter) of choice, about a ¼ cup of honey, a dash of cinnamon & vanilla and a few handfuls of ‘fun bits’ like sesame, pumpkin, chia or flax seeds, some dried fruit like raisins or cranberries… get creative!  Shake in some coconut flakes & sea salt too if desired.  Roll into balls & refrigerate.  So YUM!

As life tends to slow down a bit over the holidays, it’s often a great opportunity to spend quality time with family. Before the new year when life gets busy again, take the time to show your kids how to get comfortable in their own kitchen.  Teach them a recipe such as the one above or perhaps a simple family favourite.  Or let your kids tell you what they would really like to learn or make and see where it goes. 

And remember, if there just isn’t time in the holiday schedule to get creative in the kitchen with the kids, let us do the work!  Enroll them in one of our amazing programs and soon they’ll be cooking food for you and the rest of the family to enjoy together.