Trading Up Downtown

On Christmas Eve, as tradition has it, children leave milk and cookies for Santa to enjoy before he goes on his way. House after house, Santa takes advantage of this hospitality, but maybe he’d be better off with a more nutritious snack? I’m pretty sure Mrs. Claus would appreciate a plate of carrots and a mug of warm tea for her Santa, but what kid wants to take away Santa’s cookies?

Here’s how you can help Santa trade up on Christmas Eve:

Santa Favorite: Chocolate Chip Cookies made from Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Ready-to-Bake Cookie Dough (NuVal score: 1)

Santa Trade Up: Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

Even though the homemade cookies have many of the same ingredients as the Read-to-Bake Cooke Dough, the addition of banana (NuVal score: 91), oats (NuVal score: 57), and chopped walnuts (NuVal score: 82) boost the nutritional profile of the treat. After taking a bite of these cookies, Santa won’t even miss his old favorite!

Santa Favorite: Horizon Organic 2% Milk (NuVal score: 55)

Santa Trade Up: Garelick Farms Over the Moon Fat Free Milk (NuVal score: 91)

If you’re curious how milk stacks up on the NuVal scale, check out some of these milk scores:

• Dean’s Fat Free Skim Milk: 91
• Garelick Farms 1% Milkfat Milk: 81
• Horizon Organic 2% Milkfat Milk: 55
• Garelick Farms Whole Milk: 50
• Organic Valley Chocolate Milk 2% Milkfat: 24
• Nestle Nesquik Strawberry Milk Reduced Fat 2% Milkfat: 23
• Chug Milk Shake Vanilla: 12

As you can see, the fat free version of milk is Santa’s most nutritious option. He might even enjoy the taste more than his usual 2% milk. Personally, I think that the fat free variety is colder and crisper, which I’m sure Santa would appreciate on his business night of the year.

Category: Trade Ups, Uncategorized by Tina