Halloween conjures images of chocolate and candy, but these don't have to be your only options on the scariest night of the year. Whether you are hosting a Halloween party, handing out goodies at your front door or providing an at-home alternative to the bags of candy your kids bring home, try some of these healthy Halloween treats and snacks made with fruits, vegetables and other healthy ingredients.
Orange Mini Jack-o'-Lanterns
Cut the top off a large orange. Scoop out the insides, chop them into bite-sized pieces and set the empty orange rind aside. Mix the orange chunks with chunks of apple, seedless red grapes cut into halves, pieces of cantaloupe and nonfat vanilla or lemon yogurt. Draw or carve a jack-o'-lantern face on the outside of the orange rind and fill it with the fruit salad.
Edible Eyeballs
The principle behind edible eyeballs is simple. You just need to create three layers of healthy fruit or veggies to make up the whites, lens and pupil of the eye. A flattened slice of dried apple topped by a dried apricot and a raisin for the pupil is one idea. You can use cream cheese or peanut butter to hold the layers together if necessary. Round slices of carrots with cream cheese whites and a black olive iris make up another option.
Banana Ghosts
Peel a banana and cut it in half. Put a frozen-treat stick in the bottom of each half and freeze for about three hours, or until firm. Roll the frozen banana in plain yogurt until the banana is coated white. Use raisins or other small pieces of dried fruit to make two eyes and a mouth on each banana.
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
Toasted pumpkin seeds are nutritious and easy to make. Reserve the seeds after cleaning out your pumpkin. Rinse them thoroughly under cool water, removing all pumpkin pulp still attached to the seeds. Bake the seeds in a single layer on a cookie sheet at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes, stirring about halfway through. You can season pumpkin seeds with salt-free seasoning, cinnamon, spices, turmeric or garlic powder.
Fruit Leathers
If you are planning to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, nutritious fruit leathers are much healthier than the standard candy bar fare. While many commercial fruit products are full of added sugars and preservatives, there are some healthy varieties out there. Look for brands that use actual fruit and contain no added sugars or trans fats.
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