Fun and Healthy Habits with Elf on the Shelf

7 ideas for you!

Over the years, Elf on the Shelf has become a beloved holiday tradition for many families because it adds a touch of magic and excitement during the days leading up to Christmas, especially for children. If you're new to Elf on the Shelf, here's the gist: families adopt one of Santa's Scout Elf messengers each holiday season. These special elves help Santa manage his nice list by observing a family's Christmas adventures and reporting back to Santa at the North Pole each night. The next morning, the Scout Elf returns to the family and settles in a new spot, eagerly waiting to be discovered. Children delight in waking up and scouring the house for their elf.

While the elf has his fair share of fun while everyone is asleep – think hosting tea parties, baking cookies, or racing monster trucks, at Dole, we think he can be a big help when it comes to encouraging healthy eating habits among our children. Here are a few ideas: 

1.     Make healthy options more appealing:  Leverage your elf’s magical powers to make fruits and veggies more exciting and fun for your kids. For instance, ‘Santa’s little helper’ can leave a note next to the bananas saying, ‘Eat me to get energy for your next adventure!’

2.     Make it a Game:  Get your elf to facilitate a healthy food hunt! Create a scavenger hunt by placing clues with your elf, along with in the fridge, pantry, and around the house, leading your kids to the healthy snacks. With every successful discovery, encourage your children to give the fruit or veggie a try!

3.     Make New Friends:  Encourage your elf to make new friends in the fruit bowl – maybe your children will too!  Add googly eyes to all of the fruit, then he can hang out in the middle of the bowl with his arms around his new friends! 

4.     Help Good Habits Stick:  What kid doesn’t love stickers?  Let your kids know the elf is watching by rewarding them with fruit and veggie stickers.  Maybe they ate all of their broccoli or maybe they tried a new fruit with lunch! Whatever it was, leave a note of praise and add a few stickers in the morning to reinforce the good behavior! 

5.     Use the Elf to Create Meal Plans:  Another option is to position him next to the weekly meal plan. Spice things up by having the elf rearrange scheduled meals to feature his favorite veggies or fruits. This way, kids can look forward to trying their elf’s personal favorites!

6.     Have the Elf Make Smoothies:  Smoothies are an excellent way to incorporate fruits and veggies in everyone's diet. One night, when the kids are asleep, enlist your elf to make a smoothie before he goes back to the North Pole. Leave a note with him, letting the kids know there is a breakfast smoothie in the fridge.   His note can also compliment the kids for trying something new too! 

7.     Create Mini Elves:  While children sleep, your elf can create mini ME’s using the Dole Elves recipe. Bananas, strawberries and grapes, on a toothpick have never been more fun!  Pair with yogurt and you have a quick and healthy breakfast to start the day. 

Incorporating healthy habits is a good focus all year round, but during the holidays, it can also be tricky. Now, with these tips hopefully your kids can look forward to their Elf on the Shelf adventures and you can enjoy the positive reinforcement for healthy behaviors (and a little assistance with fresh ideas for your elf to do). There’s nothing like a magical holiday combined with healthy eating habits for our little ones. Happy holidays!

Published December 1, 2023