Magical Reindeer Food is a fun activity to do with your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews and brings out the wonder of the season. Perfect for kids to give to their friends or use themselves on Christmas Eve.
Printable gift tags included!
Years ago, when the kids and I still peered towards the moon in hopes of catching a glimpse of Rudolph leading Santa’s sleigh as we drove away from church on Christmas Eve, my friend, Marilu, gave us a bag of magical food.
This sparkly mixture was not meant for human consumption, however. It was a special treat for the kids to leave for the reindeer after the milk and cookies had been put out for Santa.
Attached to the bag was a clever poem instructing children to sprinkle this glistening oat mixture outside as a beacon to guide the reindeer:
Sprinkle this reindeer food outside tonight
The moonlight will make it sparkle bright
As the reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home
Chances are, you have the simple ingredients needed to mix up a batch of reindeer food for the special believers you know. Kids may even enjoy mixing it themselves and giving as gifts to their friends.
To make this “food” safe for birds and small children, stick with colored or glittery sprinkles instead of true glitter.
I’m not sure where my friend originally discovered the idea but, for added ease, I discovered an online template to help create the adorable tags. If you click on the link below, you can easily print them, just like they are pictured here. Use plain white computer paper or a heavier stock if preferred.
Download printable gift tags with instructions here:
Click here: Printable Reindeer Food Tag Sheet
Ho, ho, ho!
Magical Reindeer Food
Ingredients
- Raw uncooked oats
- Sugar cookie sprinkles
- Plastic sandwich or snack baggies
- Ribbon in festive holiday colors
- Paper for the printable tags
Instructions
- Pour 3-4 tablespoons of oats into each plastic bag.
- Add a tablespoon or two of sprinkles.
- Iridescent sprinkles or red and green sprinkles are good choices; but use what you have on hand. (You can even use the fine sanding sugar used for sand tarts. Just beware: If you mix red and green sugar, the resulting color will be a less festive shade of brown.)
- Close the baggie with a piece of ribbon, and shake to mix.
- If using a zipper top bag, punch a small hole in the corner and thread a piece of ribbon through the hole.
- Make a tag by writing or printing the poem (printed below) onto a piece of paper or card stock. Add the tag to the bag for a fun gift for children to give their friends to use on Christmas Eve—or save and use themselves!
- After you put out the milk and cookies for Santa, head outside to sprinkle this magic reindeer food on the snow or your lawn.
Video
Notes
- Sprinkle this reindeer food outside tonight
- The moonlight will make it sparkle bright
- As the reindeer fly and roam
- This will guide them to your home
Originally posted December 2013
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