Reindeer Food - What Santa’s helpers eat during the holidays
Have you ever wondered what Rudolph might eat while he is in the North Pole? Rudolph and the other eight helpers of Santa eat reindeer food. They begin eating this mixture as soon as they are off their mother’s milk, which is when they are about six months old.
Reindeer food is a mixture of oats, honey, and other whole grains. Children get tips from Santa Clause so they can leave some of this out for the reindeer on Christmas eve. The reindeer food gives them the energy they need to make it through their long night.
The holidays are magic, especially for kids. They want to be certain they have done everything correctly so they can get the gifts they asked for. Putting out reindeer food is a way for the children to feel they are special to Santa and his flying friends. It adds a little glitter and sparkle to their lives.
After Christmas every year, Rudolph and company have to go on a diet since they consumed so much reindeer food in the month of December. Santa makes sure these animals are given free healthy meals for the next six months so he know they are healthy. He and Mrs. Clause give reindeer food in smaller portions to the crew. They also get a sprinkle of protein on their food to make sure their diet is properly balanced.
Santa wants to make sure his crew is healthy for the following season, so he makes sure to cut back on their reindeer food right after Christmas. This is supposed to make a huge difference in their weight. They usually drop ten pounds after less than a month of being on this diet.
In January, reindeer food is more scarce to find. They are lucky if they get more than a bowl every day. Santa would feed them an apple only if he had his way. He hates looking a his fat flying friends.
These animals avoid activity most of the year, but immediately after Christmas, Santa insists they all begin an exercise regime to help take off the pounds the extra reindeer food put on them. When they have been active for about two months, and have taken off their extra pounds, Santa is finally satisfied. He wants to make sure they are in great shape to help deliver gifts for the next season. Santa knows an overweight reindeer will not be an asset to the rest of the team when it is time to pull the sleigh the next year.