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Is it just me or has anyone else noticed how so many holidays seem to be centered around junk food? From Halloween candy to Christmas cookies to Valentine’s Day treats to Easter baskets it feels like my daughters collect enough candy from the holidays alone to feed an entire army (and we actually did help feed the army by shipping our Halloween candy to them one year!).
And since holidays, which seem to pop up every other month, are intertwined with birthday parties, school rewards, and other special occasions (King Cake for Mardi Gras anyone?) I often feel like I don’t even get the chance to “treat” my kids to something special because everyone else does it for me. But that’s because we aim to let treats truly be a "treat" at our house, which means not getting one every single day (or even every other day), and it sometimes feels like the rest of the world isn’t quite on board with that idea.
This post is not about that though…it’s actually about how “treats” can be fun and exciting without also being full of sugar or artificial colors (or from a factory)! These Avocado Brownies are another fun healthier treat. Or, make these Gluten-Free Brownies if you are gluten-free.
I know people get caught up in wanting to give kids something special—and some people even think I am “depriving” my children when I don’t want them to have highly processed junk food—but how special is it really if it’s also not good for their health? Sure a piece of candy here or there probably won’t hurt anything and my kids certainly eat junk food like that on occasion, but the point is I can offer something that’s better for them and just as exciting! I think it’s up to us to decide what foods are deemed as “special.”
If I put a little extra thought into how a certain food is presented, and I tell my girls it’s extra special then guess what? They agree and get pretty excited about it. They are young (4 and 7) so I’m not sure how long this will last, but you should have seen how they were clamoring over the pictured heart shaped fruit (on the kabob sticks with ribbons) while I was busy taking a million pictures of them. They were thrilled when I finally said they could gobble them up.
Was it a little more work than ripping open a Pop Tart? Sure, but not much and I personally think the extra effort was worth it to feel good about what I was feeding them. :)
So in the midst of the standard candy this Valentine’s Day, I hope you’ll consider trying out some of these holiday-themed alternatives as well (as I’ve said before…cookie cutters aren’t just for cookies!).
Holiday Themed Alternatives
- Heart or X & O shaped cheese or fruit (apple, kiwi, & honey-dew melon pictured above) either by itself or with other pieces on kabob sticks.
- Homemade whole-wheat brownies (pictured & recipe below) that are heart-shaped or have heart shapes on them using unsweetened coconut, homemade whipped cream, unsweetened cocoa powder, or crushed nuts…you could even stick a small heart-shaped strawberry on top. Or, make healthier Paleo Brownies.
- Heart-shaped homemade whole-grain pop tarts.
- Whole-grain breads (like banana, zucchini, or pumpkin) baked in heart-shaped muffin tins.
- Whole-grain muffins baked in either full-sized or mini Valentine’s-themed paper muffin holders (can be found at Michael’s Craft Store or Target).
- Heart or X & O shaped breakfast pancakes (pictured) either plain or with flavored cream cheese - try mixing in fresh pureed strawberries or an all-fruit raspberry jelly to make it pink - in the middle to make it a sandwich.
- Fruit or cheese squares stuck with Valentines-themed toothpicks (can be found at Michael’s or Target).
- Heart shaped PB&J sandwiches for lunch (save the bread scraps in the freezer to make croutons or stuffing another day).
- A Valentine's themed lunch with a heart-shaped sandwich, heart-shaped fruit, and even heart-shaped cheese on a salad!
Please share your “real food” Valentine’s Day ideas in the comments below! And now here's the recipe for those brownies...
Dark Chocolate Whole-Wheat Brownies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup whole-wheat flour ((I tested this recipe with King Arthur’s organic white whole-wheat flour, which is 100% whole-grain))
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (you will have much better results if you use “dark” cocoa (Hershey’s makes some))
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup pure maple syrup (or honey - my family is divided because I loved the maple version and they loved the honey version)
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup nuts (chopped (optional))
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9X9 inch square glass baking dish with oil or butter.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients in a bowl including the flour, cocoa and baking powder and set aside.
- In a small pot on the stove melt the coconut oil together with the maple syrup and vanilla extract.
- Once the coconut oil is melted whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Add the egg and keep whisking until it's mixed together thoroughly. If using nuts fold them into the batter with a spatula.
- Pour the batter into the glass baking dish and bake for 16 - 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Eat or store in an air-tight container at room temperature - enjoy!
Kathy says
I just made these... I can eat them because I don't mind the more bitter chocolate flavor,but they were very, very dry. The kids said no way! I am new at this so I really need some suggestions. I followed the recipe exactly with honey.
100 Days of Real Food says
FYI - Based on feedback I've changed the recipe since the original was posted.
Karen says
Yum. I used a mix of WW pastry flour and oat flour. I used honey, and I also mixed dark and regular cocoa. They still turned out very dark chocolate tasting. I also added 1/4 cup homemade applesauce that was very thick and a splash of whole milk, since some commenters said they were dry. The only thing I will do differently next time is less dark cocoa, but that's just personal preference.
Thanks for the recipe!!
Makenzie says
I made these and while the flavor was great (sweet enough, chocolately) they were very, very dry. Any suggestions? We have been using WW flour in everything for a while, so we're used to the consistency/density, but these just didn't turn out.
(Btw, also just made the banana bread but as muffins, and they turned out great!)
100 Days of Real Food says
I actually slightly changed the recipe since you made them...the new recipe replaced the old one on this post.
Jen says
These are sooo good! Thanks for the great recipe! I'm addicted!
eila @ the full plate blog says
i just compiled a list of sweet-treat ideas for school snacks...still haven't decided which one I'll make for this week's gathering, but it will likely be a fruit skewer, smoothie or yogurt-based dip... we'll see! http://fullplatecookinglessons.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentines-treats-and-class-snack-ideas.html
Amy says
I made these tonight too and they were a big flop. It could be because of what I used; I used my own ground whole wheat flour and raw cacao powder instead of nestle's cocoa. My brownies were not sweet and they were gritty. I used the honey. I may try them again using the same flour and cocoa you did. Do you think you could add liquid stevia to help sweeten them up? Or maybe honey and maplel syrup? I would love any suggestions you have. I absolutely love your site and have baked several of your recipes and they are all wonderful!!!
Becky says
I was just thinking about trying to make real brownies. You read my mind. I can't wait to try these!
Jen says
I tried these tonight and mine were a huge flop. I don't think my butter was warm enough as it did not mix well. I had my friends taste and give feedback and they both said they tasted bitter. I think I will try again with warmer butter and honey. On the up side my daughter seemed to like them.
100 Days of Real Food says
Did you follow the recipe exactly (using an electric mixer to break up the butter)?
Jennifer says
Where is this bit about butter and the electric mixer? I used the coconut oil but sometimes that flavor is a bit much for me and would like to use butter. I did like them tonight, though I am interested in trying a different way!
100 Days of Real Food says
I actually changed the recipe based on reader feedback. If you want to try them with butter just melt it and use in place of the coconut oil.
Merriett Ferris says
You can substitute the butter with a mashed up avacado. I just made a brownie recipe similar to yours with avacado instead and it was delish!
Deb says
I love these recipes - everything I've tried has been a hit with my family. What I really want to know is if you have a list of tips for converting my old recipes into "real food" recipes - how much honey in place of sugar, a substitute for Crisco, etc. For many of them, I can wing it, but some of the baked goods just don't come out right.
Oh, and tonight it's chicken picatta with whole grain pasta. This one I've successfully adapted just by switching to whole white-wheat flour for dredging the chicken and switching the pasta. It is my 4yo's absolute favorite dinner. I even make it for company - I thought my mother-in-law was going to faint when she found out that I cook with REAL BUTTER!
100 Days of Real Food says
I don't have a list like that, but that is a good idea...thanks for sharing!
Amy says
Deb, I use coconut oil (that is solid) for Crisco in recipes. Just thought I'd let you know.
The Poorganic Life says
Wheat germ is also great for "breading" and works a little more like a crumb. :)
Katie | Healthnut Foodie says
Agave is not real food. It is fructose, converted by the liver 100%, the same as HFCS. I was so sad when I discovered this. :( Boo. Raw honey, maple syrup, or organic cane sugar are a much better option.
Tina says
I would love to see baked goods recipes made with agave instead of sugar. Have you tried any? How could I substitute the maple syrup or honey in your whole wheat brownie recipe with agave?
100 Days of Real Food says
We don't use/recommend agave and here's why: http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/
Laurie says
thanks for the ideas! I will definitely be trying the brownie recipe. Also I was wondering, I've been finding a lot of recipes that use agave syrup as the sweetener.. does this count as a "whole food"? If not, do you think the same amount of honey or maple syrup would make a big difference in the taste?
100 Days of Real Food says
We do not use/recommend agave and here's why: http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/
Christina says
Where do you find the mini heart shape cutters? Any idea what size they are?
100 Days of Real Food says
You can get them at Michael's Craft Store, A.C.Moore or Target
Courtney says
These are delicious! I just made a batch and added a little more maple syrup (1/4 cup instead of 1/3) and 4 oz. unsweetened organic applesauce--just because when I was mixing the batter it was so dry & thick I was a little nervous--it ended up making the brownies a little more fluffy but so good. I still feel bad eating a little brownie before lunch...
Pam@behealthybehappywellness says
Great ideas! I try to make the "treats" themed to the holiday - just a little decorating and making it seem special makes an ordinary dinner a big event. So for Valentine's day, I'll cut their food into heart shapes, we'll decorate the table with red (cloth) napkins and homemade valentine's, etc. The kids love all that.
My goal for this month is to have a healthy snack waiting for them after school - I'm making a list and these brownies will go on them - maybe for a Friday "here comes the weekend" treat!
Starr says
Made these tonight to celebrate our family going the whole month of Jan eating REAL FOOD! No fast food. No fried food. No sugar or other artificial, refined sugar/sweeteners. I am so stinkin' proud of us. Bring on February!
Jeanie says
Heart shaped pizza. So fun and super easy.
Sarah S. says
Chocolate covered strawberries!
Flossie Epley says
I've made heart-shaped biscuits or pancakes for years on Valentines Day. I still make them for my hubby though the kids are now adults. Another idea I've used to make food special without sacrificing nutrition is giving thought to how it's served. I have a beautiful china plate that I call our "special plate." If I want to honor someone (birthday, some accomplishment, etc.), that person gets the beautiful Noritake plate with violets on it while the rest of us use our beautiful white china on a lacy table cloth. Stores sell "You're Special" plates, but personally I like the one we've dubbed "special." In my quest to simplify life I considered getting rid of my china. However, I decided that since it's getting less common to cook beautiful, nutritious food and serve it on bone china, I'd keep the china and invite people to our home to eat. We live on a limited income and rarely eat out, but we have guests frequently and they love the yummy food and TLC.
100 Days of Real Food says
We have the red "You're Special" plate from when I was a little girl...my daughter's LOVE when we decide to pull it out for a special celebration!
Eleanor Mulford says
It's funny you should post this, as I tried to make whole wheat brownies 2 days ago. Unfortunately, they were terrible. This recipe looks a lot better than the recipe I was trying to adapt. Thanks!
Kim says
I love your site! I am sensitive to gluten and am wanting more ideas for gluten free meal plans, recipes, etc. Do you have any suggestions?
100 Days of Real Food says
Thanks! For gluten free (recipes and meal plans) check out both Deliciously Organic and The Fresh 20. Good luck!
Alison says
Could you use agave nectar instead of the maple syrup or honey? I'm not a big fan of either of those tastes and agave nectar gives sweetness without added flavor. Just not sure of the consistency.
100 Days of Real Food says
I don't recommend agave...here is some info why: http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/
Jennifer B says
I love the pancake idea. And I was thinking along the same lines with coloring (and of course flavoring) the cream cheese with fruit. My thought, though, was just a basic fruit smoothie with yogurt, banana, milk, & then strawberries for a beautiful pink Valentine's Day drink. Many thanks for the ideas.
Kristin says
Often shapes make things more fun for kids. An easy kid friendly "treat" is finger jello made knox blox and fruit juice. I cut the jello out with cookie cutters to fit the holiday/party theme. For valentine's day I use cranberry juice (red) and a heart shaped cookie cutter. My girls rarely get juice, so the jello is a real treat. If you put your pancake batter into a squeeze bottle you can make most any shape. I always make pancake men on Christmas Eve as Ma does for Laura and Mary in "Christmas in the Big Woods" and I most recently made snowman pancakes my daughter's snowman themed birthday. Cheese cracker or graham cracker dough can be cut out with cookie cutters before baking. Love the heart shaped apple pieces! They are a perfect addition to the fruit and cheese kabobs I was planning for my daughter's class valentine party :)
Amy A says
Just made these and I loved them, but my 5 year old daughter did not care for them. They are not as sweet as "box brownie mix" which is what I think she thought they were going to taste like. Hopefully as we keep working on cutting out the junk food, her tastebuds will change accordingly.
And I too, agree with the comment about the grandparents. I feel like if there are grandparents who only get to see their grandchildren a few times a year...if they want to "spoil" them with junk food, that is fine. However, we live in the same town as my parents so my children see them at least 3 times a week and my mom feels like because she is the grandma, she can feed them whatever she wants to (chocolate milk and cookies for breakfast!). A slooooow work in progress on her!! =)
100 Days of Real Food says
Did you make them with the maple syrup or the honey?
Amy A says
Maple syrup
Katie | Healthnut Foodie says
We fill the same way about treats in our household! The girls and I just got done making our third annual batch of Peppermint Bon Bons (gluten-free!). We wrap up one bite-size treat to pass out with valentines. It is a great way to teach others that homemade goodies taste way better than the factory fake food!!! http://healthnutfoodie.blogspot.com/2010/01/peppermint-bon-bons-part-two.html
Andrea says
We now give special "prizes" instead of treats. Usually they want to go to the $ store, which is great: it's inexpensive, the toys are cheap (so we can throw them away in a few days, and so avoid extra clutter, without feeling bad about it), and it is a fun little "date" with either mom or dad. Other prizes can be a new show on our Netflix queue, or that craft that they've been wanting to do forever, but that we just haven't made the time for yet. But Elizabeth speaks truth when she says the hardest part is getting the grandparents on board. Last night when I offered my middle child a black bean brownie for dessert, she countered with, "Ahhh, I was hoping for an apple for dessert!" It made me happy. Maybe we're getting somewhere with these kids after all. Or maybe those brownies were just terrible...?
Barb @ A Life in Balance says
I love these ideas (and I pinned them). I can't wait to try your brownie recipe. I've been searching for a healthy brownie recipe for my kids who love chocolate. The black bean brownie recipe on 101 Cookbooks is good, but I don't always have black beans and agave nectar in stock.
KJ says
I am probably one of the few moms at our school who is glad we cannot bring in treats for birthdays, Valentine's Day, etc. I think it creates too much stress for parents and teachers. Thanks for the recipes! Can't wait to try the brownies.
emmycooks says
I love the heart-shaped fruit "lollipops"! My three girls love just about anything that I cut into a heart shape. I just posted a recipe for heart-healthy heart-shaped sweet potato pancakes that you might also like: http://emmycooks.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/this-weekend-make-sweet-potato-pancakes-for-someone-you-love/ Enjoy!
Kristin says
I just sent an email to my child's preschool suggesting healthier 'treat' choices from all the parents, we'll see what they say......thank you for these inspiring and adorable treat ideas!
Melissa T. says
I was JUST thinking yesterday that I needed to find a healthy brownie recipe. Thanks for reading my mind! :)
Lori says
LOVE these ideas...as a parent who wants her children to eat as healthy as possible... and the parent of a child with food allergies--all the food focus of every holiday makes me cringe. These are great ideas that can easily be adapted to be inclusive. Thanks so much for sharing!
Jennifer says
Thank you so much for this post!! I was just saying yesterday, that I needed a good, healthy idea to make my daughter something fun for Valentine's. These are perfect :) Elizabeth, I totally agree with you and it IS difficult to get grandparents on board at times. I find that I just have to constantly remind my parents that we are a "no-junk-food-family" and I also remind my daughter that it's NOT ok to ask Grandma for ice cream. My daughter is 9, so right now it's all about encouraging her to be responsible and healthy. Good Luck! :)
Elena says
did you use an 8x8 pan for the brownies?
100 Days of Real Food says
Yes, it was an 8X8 pan, but the batter was not quite spread all the way to the edges (since it's thick).
Jane says
What size of pan do you bake these in?
100 Days of Real Food says
It was an 8X8 square pan, but since the batter is thick it was not spread all the way to the edge.
Elizabeth says
We also have to remember the psychological impact of calling junk food "treats". I am trying to re-work the definiton of the word for my 6-8-10 year olds. I want them to think of delicious fresh fruit and homemade healthy snacks as "treats" not processed commercial junk. The hardest part is getting the grandparents on board *sigh*.... thanks for a great website!
Amy says
It's so true. Even though my mother in law knows how I feel about junk food, it is still offered in abundance when we visit. I think a lot of it has to do with education - she just doesn't understand how foods affect your body. She believes everything should be fat-free and sugar-free to be healthy :-)
Jennifer says
I'm on board with that. Especially the grandparents part. My mom started to give my 18 month old a Coke the other day and I asked her to stop and she wouldn't. I NEVER thought I would have "one of those" mothers. She said that the kids "need to be exposed to that stuff so they know it exists." I'm so not a crazy strict person, but an 18 month old and soda? Totally not necessary. Save that for five year olds who go to an occasional birthday party.
Jen says
My dad did the same thing at my girls' first birthday! Ugghhhh!!!
Allison says
Yum! I will give these a whirl!
Laura Rodriguez says
These look great! Do you think they would turn out if I substituted 1/4 cup applesauce for the egg? My son has an egg allergy and I've been searching for a good and healthier brownie option for him.
:) says
You can use 3tbsp water mixed with 1 tbsp ground flax seed to replace egg in baking. I haven't tried it with this but so far its worked with everything else
Meg says
You could try a few tablespoons of mashed over-ripe banana or canned pumpkin.
Amanda Cowan says
I have tried the egg/flax swap and it works great! I was actually very pleasantly surprised at how well..I haven't tried THIS recipe, but I used it in a whole wheat/oat baked chocolate donut.