A nourished Christmas: Healthy Ideas for Little Learners

December has arrived, and with it comes a season full of excitement and magical moments for little learners. Early Childhood Centres across Australia are preparing for Christmas craft and end-of-year festivities.

Amid all the fun, it’s the perfect time to reinforce your healthy eating messages. At Healthy Little Heroes, we believe that healthy habits grow when they’re explored through creativity and hands-on learning.

Here are some fun ways to inspire healthy eating in your centre this Christmas season.

Christmas Craft With a Healthy Twist

1. Build-a-Veggie Reindeer

Use brown paper for reindeer faces and add “antlers” made from carrot shapes, broccoli stamps or leafy celery prints.

2. Healthy Plate Wreaths

Give each child a paper plate and let them fill the rim with pictures of foods that help them grow strong and healthy. Turn it into a beautiful “Healthy Christmas Wreath” to display.

3. Fruit and Veg Stamp Garlands

Cut apples, potatoes or capsicums into star, tree or bell shapes.

Dip in paint and stamp onto long strips of paper to create festive garlands.

Great for fine motor skills + colour recognition

4. What's in Santa's Lunchbox?

Give each child a paper lunchbox outline. Ask them to fill Santa's lunchbox with foods that will give him energy for the big night.

Fun & Festive Healthy Snack Ideas

5. Strawberry Santa Hats

Use strawberry halves with a little dollop of yoghurt on top to create adorable mini Santa hats.

6. Watermelon Christmas Trees

Cut watermelon slices into triangles and add a small rectangle of peel or a pretzel stem as the “tree trunk”.

7. Veggie Candy Canes

Alternate red capsicum and cucumber slices in a candy cane shape—bright, colourful, and great for fine motor play.

8. Grape & Berry Wreath Platter

Create a circular wreath out of green grapes, blueberries, strawberries, and kiwi.

Add a bow made from sliced strawberries for a festive finish.

9. Christmas Star Fruit Skewers

Use small star-shaped cutters on melon, pineapple, or cucumber slices, then thread them onto child-safe skewers for a “starry night” snack.

Why Christmas is the Perfect Time for Healthy Eating Messages

Children are full of wonder during December—and that curiosity is a powerful teaching tool. By weaving healthy eating messages into craft, play and food exploration, educators can:

• build positive relationships with nutritious foods

• help families create healthy festive traditions

• empower confident, curious eaters

Healthy eating at Christmas is about saying “yes” to colour, fun, nourishment, and creativity.

A Note to Educators

Thank you for all the magic, learning, and love you bring to your services during this busy season.

Wishing you and your little learners a merry, bright, and nourishing Christmas from all of us at Healthy Little Heroes.