Holiday Movies

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December 2016 View more

Make cozy memories together with these Yuletide favorites

The hustle and bustle of the holidays can often leave families feeling overwhelmed. An exceptional way to relax and to truly enjoy the season is by scheduling a special family holiday movie viewing time. Creating a special time for movie viewing sets a holiday tradition that will be remembered for years to come. Enticements such as holiday snacks are always crowd pleasers, and we’ve got you covered with a traditional low-calorie option.

To begin your plan of action, the optimal place to start is with your DVD holiday collection. Just gather those and you’ll have a starting point for choosing what other films you may need to stream or view on a scheduled programmed time slot.

Set a holiday mood by stoking up the fireplace, lighting the Christmas tree along with other holiday decorations, and dim the everyday lights. Be sure to break out those fleece blankets, change into your coziest PJs, and you’ve got the workings for a special evening.

“Go-to” holiday film list

A Christmas Story (1983) Classic tale set in the 1940s about Ralphie, a boy who tries to convince everyone that Santa should bring him a BB gun.

Elf (2003) Will Ferrell magically shows up in New York City dressed as an elf, although in reality, he is an elf in Santa’s workshop in the North Pole.

Home Alone (2003) A young boy, Kevin (played by Macaulay Culkin), is mistakenly left at home while his family is on vacation. During this time, he and his family find the true meaning of Christmas.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) Jimmy Stewart’s trials and tribulations are put to the test in the small town of Bedford Falls. This heartwarming tale shows us how a community can support one another.

The Polar Express (2004) Tom Hanks stars as a train conductor in this stop-motion film that’s based on the beloved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. A doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) Sam the Snowman (Burl Ives) tells us the story of a young red-nosed reindeer whose shiny nose isn’t appreciated until Santa has an idea.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) A timeless animated feature that showcases Charlie Brown’s journey to find the true meaning of Christmas.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) When a department store Santa claims to be the real deal, the spirit of faith is put to the test.

A Christmas Carol (1951) The original classic has had many re-makes, but this one remains the best. Can you say, “Bah, humbug?”

A Muppets Christmas Carol (1992) The Muppets perform the classic Dickens tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit my response. Ebenezer Scrooge is played by Michael Caine.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) Chevy Chase’s Griswold family is in for a few surprises when he goes above and beyond decorating for Christmas.

White Christmas (1954) Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star in a winter tale that includes Bing’s rendition of the title tune.

Skinny Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

1.5 cups fat-free milk

1 cup ice

4 teaspoons Nestle Ovaltine Rich Chocolate mix (or Chocolate/Classic Malt flavor)

1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons fat-free whipped topping (optional)

1 drop of peppermint extract

Peppermint sprigs

Directions:

Pour the milk and ice into your blender. Add in the Ovaltine, cocoa powder, and whipped topping (optional—you can leave this for the top instead). Blend 3–4 minutes until the ice is completely crushed and the mixture is thick and icy. Pour into two glasses, garnish with fresh peppermint sprigs and serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.