About Healthy Birthday Treats

A birthday party is an occasion for friends and family to get together and enjoy one another's company while celebrating another year of the honoree's life. It's filled with fun, festivities and food. Unfortunately, that food is usually not very nutritious. Traditional birthday fare can break even the most liberal diet. And for kids, all that sugar can provide an overabundance of energy. Serving healthful birthday treats is better for everyone involved.

Significance

Birthday cake and ice cream are loaded with sugar, and chips are salty and greasy. Even the usual birthday party main courses such as pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs just aren't very good for us. But celebrating your big day doesn't have to be unhealthy. There are plenty of healthful snack options that are tasty, too.

Benefits

Eating healthy can help us avoid numerous health problems. Foods laden with sugar and fat can lead to obesity, which is directly associated with such ailments as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Enjoying healthier fare on special occasions such as birthdays is not only better for us, it can also help us develop positive associations with foods that are good for us.

Types

Finger sandwiches on whole wheat bread make a great main course for birthday parties. Low-fat tuna and chicken salads are healthful and delicious. Fresh fruits are also a hit, especially when served with a healthful fruit dip. Try yogurt or low-fat pineapple cream cheese. Sherbet and sorbet are healthier alternatives to ice cream. For kids, try putting halved bananas on popsicle sticks, rolling them in softened peanut butter and then granola and chocolate sprinkles, and freezing them. If you're attached to birthday cake, substitute a loaf of fresh baked banana nut or zucchini bread.

Considerations

For die-hard birthday cake fans, there are ways to make the sweet treat healthier. Substituting applesauce for oil makes the cake moist. As an added bonus, you can cut out some of the sugar since applesauce is naturally sweet. A whipped, low-sugar frosting is better for us than the usual sugary kind. If you're making cupcakes, consider doing icing designs instead of coating the entire top with frosting.

Misconceptions

Some think a healthy birthday party is a boring birthday party, but that's not necessarily true. You don't have to have an ornate cake as a centerpiece to celebrate. Fruit trays, for example, can be visually appealing when arranged properly. How about spelling out "Happy Birthday" in grapes?