It’s Halloween! Which means it’s time to bring on the candy, costumes and trick-or-treaters. It’s ok to indulge a bit in the treats that Halloween brings, but it can quickly become that slippery slope into the holiday battle of the bulge. Want to enjoy the treats of the holiday and stay on track with your health goals? Here are 8 simple ideas to keep your Halloween healthier.
1. Eat seeds, not ‘fruit’ candies
Coat pumpkin seeds in dark chocolate for an antioxidant rich, high fiber treat.
2. Eat popcorn, not caramel corn
Reaching for popcorn instead of caramel corn will cut down on unnecessary sugar while still providing you with a serving of heart healthy whole grains. For a treat above plain ol’ popcorn, fill Halloween cupcake liners with popcorn and drizzle with melted dark chocolate chips and orange and black sprinkles.
3. Eat an Eerily Green Breakfast Smoothie, not a boring bowl of cereal
The creepy green color is thanks to kale, a nutrient dense food that is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K. Plus, this smoothie provides a full serving of veggies before the day has even started! Just blend together the following:
1 frozen banana
1 cup milk (almond, soy, cow, etc.)
1 cup kale, pulled off stem
½ cup ice cubes
1 date, pitted
1 teaspoon honey
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
4. Eat Spiders’ Legs, not candy bars
Instead of reaching for a 250-calorie candy bar, try making “spiders’ legs” for party guests. Simply fill a sealable plastic bag with melted dark chocolate. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pipe melted chocolate into small “L” shapes. Allow chocolate to harden before carefully peeling the legs off the mat and serving in a bowl marked “Spiders’ Legs.” They’ll be a sweet, portioned-controlled treat!
5. Eat whole grains, not empty calories
Make crispy rice treats using crispy brown rice cereal. The crispy brown rice cereal will provide whole grains that are heart healthy and an excellent source of B vitamins. You can even mold the crispy rice treats into pumpkin shapes by using a pumpkin mold.
6. Hand out nuts, not sugar
Chances are trick-or-treaters will be getting plenty of sugar on Halloween night. Switch it up a little bit by handing out small bags of unsalted peanuts or almonds – a great snack that is heart healthy, rich in antioxidants and will help regulate blood sugar.
7. Eat Melon Eyeballs, not meatballs
Keep your saturated fat intake in check by serving your party guests “eyeballs.” Simply use a melon baller to make small balls of apples. Then use a small spoon to hollow out a small cavity in the apple ball. Press a blueberry into the cavity. Serve as appetizer on a plate or even in drinks.
8. Eat Witches’ Fingers, not chips
Serve party guests “witches’ fingers” by cutting carrot sticks to look like bony fingers. Add an almond stuck in 1 teaspoon peanut butter for a fingernail. The carrots will provide fiber and beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant, while the nut butter delivers some healthy fats.
Published October 2013
