Dear Santa,

I’m really sorry, but there won’t be any no-bake, sugar or chocolate chip cookies waiting for you at my house this year. No brownies, candy or homemade cinnamon rolls, either.

Yeah, I know, that doesn’t jingle your bell. But before you put me on the naughty list, let me explain my decision.

No offense, Santa, but you’re not exactly the poster child for healthy living. An occasional cookie is fine, but you have a tendency to go overboard on Christmas Eve. How you can make it through the night is a miracle. Sugar high followed by an energy-robbing low. No wonder your belly shakes like a bowl full of jelly.

With the obesity epidemic expanding, especially among children, someone needs to be a better role model. Santa, you have a lot of influence, especially at this time of year.

So, I asked Sheri Caldwell, a registered dietitian with Hy-Vee in St. Joseph, to come up with some healthy, and tasty, snack alternatives to cookies. Santa, I think you’ll be impressed with her list. You can even check it twice, if you want.

Ms. Caldwell says, “We all want Santa to have plenty of energy.”

And she’s right, You need energy to do your job. So, you need to be sensible about your snacking.

Ms. Caldwell says that fruits and veggies are a great snack food, easy to grab and go. Plus, the U.S. Apple Association even surveyed children to find out what healthy snack they thought was the best for you. Santa, 59 percent chose apples as the number one snack to give you.

And according to July Daly, a nutrition communications specialist with the U.S. Apple Association, 51 percent of children surveyed said you would like red, green and yellow apples — red to match your suit, green to match the tree and yellow to match your belt buckle.

Pair that apple with some peanut butter, and Ms. Caldwell says you’re also getting a little protein boast.

Here are some other snack options. Popcorn, pretzels, animal crackers, graham crackers and trail mix are some crunchy choices. For creamy options, there’s low-fat pudding, banana, yogurt (you can dip those fruits and veggies in there, as well), string cheese and orange wedges. Chewy options include mini bagels, dried fruit mix, chewy granola bar or raisins. Santa, the American Heart Association says that you can even have a slice of angel food cake.

Ms. Caldwell adds that you should plan out your snacks and should consider serving size, calories, fat and nutrients of whatever you choose.

“Snacks should not fill us up but rather help us to not to be hungry,” Ms. Caldwell says.

Are you really hungry when you reach for that cookie, Santa, or do you reach for the sweets out of habit? Now, who’s being naughty?

So, the cookies are gone at my house. I did leave a glass of one-percent milk (I can’t take away all your favorites, can I?) I’m not going to tell you what snack I have left near the tree, but I hope you like it.

Merry Christmas, Santa, and a have happy New Year (Oh, and I promise to make sure the dogs are up this year).

Your friend, Kate.

Lifestyles reporter Cathy Woolridge can be reached at cathyw@npgco.com