Healthy Halloween Treats You (and Your Little Pumpkin) Will Love
It is hard to believe October is here, but here she is, and you know what that means—Halloween and other fall get-togethers are only a few weeks away…EEEK!
Halloween is often seen as the kick-off of the holiday season—which seems to last from October 31st until New Year’s Day. And, unfortunately, this season of fun and celebration often coincides with poor food choices.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
It is possible to offer friends and family deliciously spooky, Halloween-themed treats without pumping them full of artificial flavors and sweeteners, many of which can cause inflammation within our bodies and leave us feeling miserable…and still hungry.
Why? Because our bodies recognize that there is little nutritional value in most pre-packaged candies and treats.
So, let’s flip the script this year and try incorporating a few healthy options into our Halloween celebrations. We’ve gathered a few must-try recipes that we think you and your family will love!
Veggie Skeleton
This sweet veggie skeleton by This Healthy Table is ridiculously cute…and ridiculously easy to throw together. It’s a fun, Halloween-appropriate twist on the boring crudité platter, and we love the fact that you can whip this up using virtually any veggies you have on hand.
Pair the fresh veggies with hummus or a yogurt-based dip to add a little protein, and you’ll have a satisfying appetizer your guest will love…no matter how old they are!
Mummy Cookies
I love this recipe by Eating Bird Food because it supports the idea that you can still enjoy a sweet bite while making healthy choices.
These moist mummy cookies are made with canned pumpkin and use coconut and almond flours for a gluten-free alternative. And, before you say anything, yes…these cookies are topped with a small amount of icing. You can leave the icing off or whip up a sugar-free version, but there is such a thing as becoming too restrictive in your diet. If you are able to enjoy the teaspoon or so of icing on a cookie, please do! Life is all about balance.
Spider Web Hummus
Can we take a minute to appreciate how amazing this presentation is? AH-MAZING! And what’s even better is the fact that it comes together in a flash and is packed full of healthy, filling ingredients.
This recipe by Peas and Crayons, uses store-bought hummus, but if you have a beloved hummus recipe you’re dying to show off to your friends, go with that.
Freshly chopped veggies line the perimeter of the hummus as creepy plastic spiders make their way across a yogurt spider web.
Spooky, creative, and absolutely delicious!
“Fruit” Bat Skewers
I am just hokey enough to have fallen head-over-heels for the clever name on this fun treat, created by Tikkido, and I know those of you who have a crafty streak will love creating the whimsical bat toppers for the wooden skewers. After that, simply add whatever seasonal fruit you love and…voila!…”fruit” bat skewers!
Won’t they look adorable in a tall glass vase? And they’ll make for an easy grab-and-go snack at any party. (Given that the skewers are…well, sharp…these likely would not be a good idea for a child’s party. Perhaps you could make “fruit” bat cups and glue your bats to nice, safe paper vessels. Just an idea.)
Eating well doesn’t have to mean eating in a way that is restrictive, and there is no rule that states health and wellness must go out the window once the holidays roll around.
So, get out there—spend time with your friends, celebrate together, and eat well. You deserve it!
