Once in a while, it is good to let the kids indulge in some chocolate but you can do this in a healthy way by incorporating fruit or nuts into snacks that are chocolate-based so that they get other nutrients as well. You can also use chocolate when baking seeing as some of the ingredients used in baking can be substituted for healthier options.
Chocolate-dipped apricots
This is a healthy alternative to bonbons which could make for a special treat for your kids.
Mix water, a cinnamon stick, lemon zest and sugar in a small saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil while stirring so the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat and let it simmer on medium heat for 3 minutes. Put apricots in and simmer gently until they are tender for roughly 8 minutes then transfer them to a rack and let them cool completely. Melt some chocolate in a bowl and dip half of the apricots in while letting excess chocolate drip off, then sprinkle chopped nuts over the chocolate covered part and refrigerate until they cool.
Chocolate-dipped Clementines
Dip segments of strawberry into melted chocolate for a healthy treat for the kids, for a zesty garnish, chop up some crystallized ginger and sprinkle onto the chocolate covered segment of the clementine and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to make sure the chocolate sets.
You can replace clementine with kiwi, strawberry or any other fruit.
Cookie dough pizza
Prepare some cookie dough as you normally would and roll it into a big round shape, place it onto a large baking sheet, and bake until it turns golden brown at the edges but it should remain a bit wobbly in the middle. Let it cool for some minutes then spread a pre-made chocolate mixture of butter, sugar, vanilla, flour and salt over the cookie and sprinkle strawberries, marshmallows and chocolate buttons over it. Cut it into 15 slices or so and serve while still a bit warm
Healthy peanut butter chocolate chip cookies
This recipe is a healthier version of chocolate chip cookies in that you will use whole-wheat flour to bake them, some peanut butter for added protein and dark chocolate chips for less sugar content. You will also substitute sugar for honey. There is more fiber content in the cookies because of the use of whole grain flour
