The federal government has a recipe for a healthy winter snack

The Obama administration's Department of Agriculture on Tuesday wrote a detailed blog post about how people can make winter-themed snacks for their kids out of fruits, vegetables and other healthy snacks.

USDA's advice leaves nothing to chance, and warns first: "Before getting started, be sure to wash your hands."

USDA says you can use these common household items to make a winter-themed snack.
Image: USDA

USDA proposed getting some wheat bread, peanut butter, raisins, carrots, a bell pepper, a banana, cheese, raisins and pretzels. It said to start by making a peanut butter and banana sandwich, and then using a cookie cutter to punch out a snowman-shaped sandwich.

But don't just throw away the rest of the sandwich. "Don't waste the crusts!" USDA warned. "Enjoy the non-snowman parts of the sandwich now as a snack or save for later."

After decorating the snowman with pretzels and raisins, USDA wants you to cut out star-shaped pieces of cheese. Put that on a plate, just above a tree made of pretzels and bell peppers. It suggested using "air-popped popcorn" to make snow on the plate.

"Have fun and make it your own," USDA said. "Orange and yellow low-fat cheese can be used to add stars or a sun to the sky. Plant extra trees or build a house. Then eat and enjoy!"

Hope you came hungry...
Image: USDA