 Holiday season isn't all just about food
Christmas break is like a miniature summer but with an even larger to-do list. But having the kids home can be a great blessing to your food plan.
First, you can plan lots of physical activities with them. This is the Valley's outdoor time of year. The weather is great for an afternoon in the park. You'll get some activity and give the kids a chance to expend some energy at the same time.
Another fun activity is ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo. The whole family can bundle up and pretend they actually live someplace cold. You'll get to take a nice walk and have fun doing it.
It's fun to bake with the kids, but what do the kids like most about it? Spending time with you and being creative. You can do that with fun art projects. We have several good craft stores in town, and they have a wide variety of kids' projects ranging from simple to complex. Perhaps Grandma and Grandpa can get some unique homemade gifts this year? This will allow you to focus on something besides cookies.
And then there is the shopping. Have the kids help you plan and prepare snacks to take along. That way you are less tempted to grab junk food at the mall when you get hungry. If the kids are part of the planning process, they will be more likely to eat what you bring rather than ask for something else.
Wrapping can be a fun non-food activity as well. If you are OK with some of the presents not looking quite perfect, the kids can come up with some fun and creative ways to wrap them.
All of this makes a great opportunity to teach them that it's not all about the food.
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