Christmas means presents under the tree, but it also means food shared with family and friends. For kids especially, festive food is half the fun of the season, whether it’s decorating biscuits, making fruit Santas, or enjoying a colourful holiday platter. 

But here’s the catch: while Christmas is known for sugary treats and indulgence, studies show that Aussie kids already consume far more added sugar than recommended, with about 80% exceeding the daily limit set by the World Health Organization (<10%). That’s where a little creativity in the kitchen can make all the difference.

The good news? Christmas food for kids can be fun, festive and nourishing. Research suggests that involving children in preparing meals not only encourages them to try new foods but also helps establish healthy eating habits long-term. So whether you’re planning snacks for a Christmas party, making lunchbox-friendly festive bites, or whipping up healthier versions of classic treats, these recipes are designed to keep the holiday magic alive without going overboard on the sugar.

Ready to fill the season with delicious, kid-approved Christmas eats? Let’s dive in!

Make Christmas Food Joyful and Healthy with Expert Tips

The holidays don’t have to mean sugar overload. Dr Nick Fuller’s Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids helps parents find the balance, offering simple tips to keep Christmas meals festive, fun and nourishing for children. This trusted guide shows how small changes can turn holiday food into positive, stress-free experiences for the whole family.

Keep the joy in Christmas without compromising on health. Grab your copy of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids today and enjoy the season with peace of mind.

7 Christmas Food Recipes For Kids

With the festive season just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen. These 7 Christmas food recipes for kids are designed to be fun, simple, and full of flavour. Plus, they sneak in some nutritious ingredients without compromising on taste.

Festive Cheese Trees

These playful festive cheese trees are a hit with kids and a clever way to make Christmas snacks a little healthier. Pair them with colourful veggie sticks. Think carrot, celery and cucumber, and a kid-friendly dip like hummus, and you’ve got a festive platter that’s both fun and nutritious. Perfect for lunchboxes, party tables, or grazing boards, these cheese trees keep veggies front and centre while still feeling like a special holiday treat.

Type: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Contains Nuts, Snacks, Kid Friendly

Makes 8 trees

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 0 minutes 

Ingredients

8 individual light cheese wedges

2 tablespoons dukkah seed/spice mix

2 long sprigs fresh rosemary, cut into quarters

Recipe

1. Unwrap each individual cheese triangle. 

2. Sprinkle the dukkah onto a small flat plate. Press each cheese triangle into the dukkah mix to coat one side of the cheese. 

3. Take one-quarter piece of the rosemary sprig and press into the base of the cheese triangle to make the stem of the tree. 

4. Repeat for each cheese triangle. 

5. Arrange the cheese trees onto a festive serving plate. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Festive Stuffed Strawberries

These festive stuffed strawberries are a colourful, fun treat that kids will love helping to make. While naturally sweet, they pair perfectly with veggie snacks like carrot sticks, cucumber rounds, and a simple dip to keep the holiday platter balanced and satisfying. Topped with green pistachios and red cranberries, they bring extra festive cheer to any Christmas spread, and are best prepared just before serving to keep them fresh and vibrant.

Type: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Contains Nuts, Snacks, Kid Friendly

Makes 10 strawberries

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 0 minutes 

Ingredients

• 10 medium to large strawberries
• 10 heaped teaspoons cottage cheese
• ¼ cup pistachios, roasted
• 1 tablespoon dried cranberries
• Recipe
• 1. Use a small sharp knife to slice off the top of the strawberry, and to carefully remove the core of the strawberry. 

Recipe

2. Use a small spoon to fill each strawberry with one heaped teaspoon of cottage cheese. 

3. Chop the pistachios and dried cranberries into small pieces.

4. Sprinkle the stuffed strawberries with the pistachios and cranberries, ensuring that they stick to the cottage cheese. 

5. Arrange the stuffed strawberries on a festive serving platter. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Chocolate Stars

These chocolate stars are a festive favourite that kids will love decorating and eating. Swap out plain chocolate for a mix of dark and milk, then add colourful toppings like crushed pistachios, dried cranberries, or festive sprinkles to make them sparkle for Christmas. Simple, customisable, and a healthier homemade treat, these stars are perfect for adding a sweet touch to your holiday snack table while keeping little hands busy and excited in the kitchen.

Type: Vegetarian, Kid Friendly 

Makes 12 stars

Prep Time: 10 minutes 

Cooking Time: 0 minutes (+2 hours refrigeration) 

Ingredients

• 1x 12-hole star shaped silicone chocolate mould or ice cube tray
• 1x 200g block dark chocolate
• ½ cup selection of dried fruits and nuts (we chose toasted slivered almonds, pistachios, white chocolate chips and dried cranberries)

Recipe

1. Break up the chocolate into small pieces and place into a heatproof bowl. 

2. Melt the chocolate slowly in the microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring often, until melted. Alternatively, place the bowl of chocolate over a pot of simmering water and stir often until melted. 

3. Using approximately half of the dried fruit and nut selection, sprinkle each star-shaped hole of the chocolate mould or ice cube tray with your selection of dried fruits and nuts. 

4. Pour enough melted chocolate into each star-shaped hole to cover the fruit and nuts. Sprinkle each star-shaped hole with the remaining fruit and nuts, then top each with the remaining melted chocolate. 

5. Hold the ends of the chocolate mould or ice cube tray and firmly tap onto the bench a few times to release any air bubbles.

6. Place the chocolate tray into the fridge to set for at least 2 hours. Remove the stars from the mould and keep in the fridge until ready to serve, as they will melt quickly. Enjoy! 

Christmas Trail Mix

This Christmas trail mix is a fun, festive snack that kids can enjoy anytime. Packed with a mix of nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and a sprinkle of festive extras like cranberries or mini chocolate drops, it’s a tasty way to sneak in some healthy ingredients. Easy to prepare in advance and store in an airtight container, it’s perfect for school lunchboxes, after-school munchies, or adding to your holiday snack table.

Type: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free, Lactose Free, Snacks, Contains Nuts

Makes approximately 12 serves

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes 

Ingredients

• 2 cups of assorted nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. (We have chosen whole almonds, cashews, pistachios, sunflower seeds, pepitas and dried cranberries)

Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line two baking trays with baking paper.

2. Arrange the nuts and seeds on the baking paper in a single layer. 

3. Place into the oven for 15-20 minutes, until lightly toasted.

4. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on the baking trays. 

5. Once cooled, mix in the dried cranberries. Transfer the trail mix to an airtight container. 

6. Enjoy!

Christmas Wreath Fruit Platter

This Christmas wreath fruit platter is a festive showstopper that kids will love helping to assemble. Perfect for sharing at family gatherings or parties, it doubles as a healthy snack or light dessert. For easy transport, pack the chopped fruit and arrange it into a wreath shape when you arrive. You can customise it with seasonal fruit favourites, and make the wreath as big or small as you like. It’s a fun, colourful way to bring a bit of Christmas cheer to the table while keeping things nutritious.

Type: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free, Lactose Free, Kid Friendly 

Makes 1 wreath

Prep Time: 10 minutes 

Cooking Time: 0 minutes 

Ingredients

• Assorted selection of fresh seasonal fruit, chopped into varying sizes. (We chose watermelon, rock melon, honeydew melon, strawberries, cherries, raspberries, and blackberries)
• Sprigs of fresh mint, to serve 

Recipe

1. Choose a large circular serving plate. Begin by arranging pieces of chopped melon and strawberries into a circular shape around the border of the plate. 

2. Top with the smaller pieces of fruit and berries, filling in the gaps until you have created a thick wreath shape fruit arrangement. 

3. An optional step to add some extra festive decoration is to slice the watermelon, rock melon, and/or honeydew melon into stars, using a star-shaped cookie cutter. Arrange the stars on top of the wreath. 

4. Top the fruit wreath with some sprigs of fresh mint. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Sparkling Fruit Stars

These sparkling fruit stars are a fun, festive snack that kids will love helping to make. Bright, colourful, and naturally sweet, they’re a healthy way to add some holiday sparkle to your Christmas table. Perfect for lunchboxes, afternoon snacks, or party platters, these little stars make festive eating both playful and nutritious.

Type: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free, Lactose Free, Kid Friendly 

Makes 6-8 stars

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 0 minutes 

Ingredients

• One quarter of a watermelon
• One half of a rockmelon
• One half of a Honeydew melon
• Assorted star shaped cookie cutters (choose smaller sized cutters as they are easier to use)
• Toothpicks

Recipe

1. Cut each of the melons into thick slices, approximately 1-2cm thick. You want to create slices with as much surface area as possible, to result in the most area for cutting out stars. 

2. Remove the skin and seeds. 

3. Use the star-shaped cutters to cut out various-sized melon stars. 

4. Arrange the largest stars on a serving platter. Top with medium-sized stars, followed by the smallest stars on top. 

5. Secure the sparkling star stacks with a toothpick. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Strawberry Banana Santas

These adorable strawberry banana Santas are a festive favourite that kids will love helping to make. With bright red strawberries and sweet banana slices, they bring a cheerful pop of colour to your Christmas snack table. Quick to assemble and perfectly portioned for little hands, they’re a healthy, fun, and festive treat that makes holiday snacking extra special. 

Type: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Kid Friendly 

Makes 12

Prep Time: 10 minutes 

Cooking Time: 0 minutes 

Ingredients

• 12 medium sized strawberries
• 1 large banana 
• 2 tablespoons cottage cheese
• 24 black sesame seeds

Recipe

1. Slice the stem/leaves off the strawberries to create a flat base for each strawberry. Make another slice parallel to the base, approximately half a centimetre thick. 

2. Slice the banana into 12 slices, approximately half a centimetre thick. 

3. Place the bottom piece of a strawberry onto a plate. Spread with some cottage cheese to create Santa’s beard. Top with one slice of banana, then the remaining piece of strawberry.  

4. Top each strawberry ‘hat’ with a small dollop of cottage cheese. Arrange two black sesame seeds as ‘eyes’ onto the slice of banana. 

5. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to create 12 Santas.

6. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Final Thoughts

With these fun and healthy Christmas food ideas, mealtimes can be just as magical as the rest of the holiday season. From colourful fruit platters and sparkling stars to festive cheese trees and strawberry banana Santas, there’s something to delight every little foodie. 

These recipes aren’t just tasty; they’re a chance to get kids involved in the kitchen, sneak in some nutritious ingredients, and make memories along the way. So this Christmas, turn snacking into a celebration and let the kids join in on the festive fun.

Looking to make your Christmas meals both festive and nutritious? Discover fun ways to sneak veggies into your kids' plates with our Top Hidden Vegetable Recipes For Picky Eaters. Perfect for the holiday season.

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Meet Dr Nick Fuller

My Story

As a father, I know first-hand that raising healthy and happy children is tricky. Children are fussy, particularly at the end of the day when they are shattered. We also live in a society where companies seek to profit from what we feed our kids; incorrect and damaging advice is pushed on us and marketed towards our children, and we have no time.

But with these recipes and resources, you and your children can enjoy simple and well-founded food and lifestyle choices for lifelong health.