Share ideas for healthy but festive christmas snacks and treats

[MrsMolesworth]

I need some ideas for low fat and not too rich Christmas treats to fit in with someone's dietary requirements.

So far I can think of:

clementines
dates and figs
mini salted pretzels

not very inspired. Any ideas?

[BrieAndChilli]

I saw a fruit xmas tree, kebab stick a carrot onto an apple (cut at bottom to make it flat) then using cocktail sticks cover it with fruit to make an xmas tree shape.

[BrieAndChilli]

I've also seen black olives stuffed with mini mozzarella balls and some carrot to look like little penguins

[MrsMolesworth]

Wow. Both of those sound fun and would look good on the table. Thanks.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

Twiglets

[MrsMolesworth]

Yay Twiglets! I forgot them. Love them!

[MTWTFSS]

Home made popcorn, sprinkled with a mixture of icing sugar and cinnamon powder.

[katienana]

Pomegranate seeds. Any kind of fruit really! Pickled onions are a dieters friend.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Will figs still be around by then? Fresh figs are glorious and the colours are v festive.

Tiny meringues with raspberries and a bit of natural yoghurt?

Yes to pickled onions! Pickled red cabbage too - Garners is the best, but stupidly expensive. I have a jar every Christmas but resist it for the rest of the year.

Personally I think smoked salmon is the work of the devil, but that with some avocado or as tiny brown bread and cream cheese sarnies, or something.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

Ooh, pickled walnuts, love them.
I agree Garners pickles are pricey, lovely though, I have a jar of their onions in my fridge.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

The onions are often on offer and work out pretty good value, as they are vastly superior to anything other than home pickled ones ime. I can't often justify buying the cabbage, as I'm the only one who likes it here.

Low calorie jelly with raspberries or other jewel like fruit in it. Or this looks nice. Not super-healthy, but not dreadful.

[Geepee71]

Brillo, stupid question, but what do pickled walnuts taste like? I like walnuts and most pickled foods, so is it likely I'd like them?
They always seem really expensive to buy on a whim.

[Cressandra]

Another vote for popcorn.

Devils on horseback (warm prunes wrapped in bacon) don't sound that appealing but are absolutely lush and could be attempted with low fat turkey bacon or something.

Chestnut something?

[MrsMolesworth]

Thanks for all these ideas. Like the popcorn with cinnamon and remembered it tastes good with salt and smoky paprika too.

Devils on horseback - great idea. Could do it with strips of lean back bacon.

What could you serve the pickled onions with? just on their own, like olives?
There's a few pickles that might work - cornichons or those mini sweet spicy red peppers (forget their name.) In the past I've stuffed them with cream cheese. Maybe with couscous with herbs and chopped black olives?

Can anyone thing of any more bought-over-the counter low fat/healthy snacks (like Twiglets)?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Ooh yes to those little spicy peppers - they are gorgeous!

[BoboChic]

Tiny cups of really good vegetable soup are great for cocktail snacks.

[Cressandra]

What's a cornichon, do I need them?!

Mini poppadoms, sold in big bags with the posh crisps, are relatively healthy I think.

[MrsMolesworth]

cornichon are those tiny gherkins pickled in sweet wine vinegar with dill.

[louloubelle2]

ooh - delurks - have a look at the Graze website, for ideas to steal of putting together dried fruits, nuts, and a little bit of chocolate or something sweet in a healthy way

My favourite - a mixture of good quality dark chocolate buttons, dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds. Can't say its low fat, but good fats, healthy and delicious.

[Cressandra]

Thanks MrsM.

Graze is a good tip. Look at their popcorn flavourings too.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

GeePee
They taste walnutty, and pickley, I know that sounds obvious, but they do!
They have a much softer texture though, and are great with pork pies, pate and anything blue cheese, definitely try them.

[Geepee71]

Lovely, I'll get some next time I see them and try them in a ploughmans type meal.
Thanks, I appreciate it was a bit of a random question.