Holiday Recipes  |  Recipes

Healthy Halloween Snacks

October 30, 2016  |  By: Whitney E. RD

Halloween, and other food-centric holidays, can be stressful for some people.

Those who are trying to manage their weight or are working to establish healthy eating patterns for their children, may find it difficult to make positive dietary choices when the holidays are heavily focused on sweets and candy.

But Halloween is supposed to be about fun, not guilt. And while sticking to your health goals is important, enjoying yourself is as well.

It’s all about finding balance, and certain habits can help support that.

Packing your plate with predominately healthy Halloween snacks — and saving a little space for those indulgent desires — will help you feel confident in your dietary decisions.

And for parents, offering festive snacks is a great way to guide your children toward nutritious choices — instead of forcing them.

These healthy Halloween snacks are all made with delicious, whole food ingredients. They’re not only tasty, but also incredibly simple to make, creating a fun opportunity for kids to get involved in the meal process.

I’ll be sharing these recipes on Good Day LA this morning. If you’re in SoCal look for me at 9:35 am, I’ll be the one wearing whiskers!

If you’re not in the LA area, read on for the recipes…

Skeleton Spread

This Halloween snack is great for parties.

Use your favorite vegetables to construct a nutrient-rich skeleton that is as fun to make as it is to eat. Any white dip will work for the “skull.” I made a homemade tzatziki by mixing together eight ounces of plain vegan yogurt, the juice of half a lemon, one teaspoon garlic powder, one teaspoon dill, and a sprinkle of sea salt.

Mini Jack-O-Lanterns

Transform vitamin C-packed Wonderful Halos into adorable little “pumpkins” using just a marker and a piece of celery.

Simply cut a little hole in the top of the orange and insert the celery. Use a permanent marker to draw on your favorite jack-o-lantern face.

These sweet, seedless mandarin oranges are easy to peel and to transport. Slip one in your child’s lunch box for a sweet Halloween surprise!

Grape Big Spiders

These creepy critters are a fun craft for kids.

Black grapes on toothpicks are used to create “legs” for the spider, while a plum or purple potato with edible eyes makes up the body. Use honey or a little frosting to attach the eyeballs.

Ghost Popsicles

These tasty popsicles are another fun treat for kids to help create.

Cut a banana in half and skewer the pointy half with a popsicle stick or wooden skewer. Dip the banana in non-dairy vanilla yogurt and attach chocolate chips to make a face. Place the pops on parchment paper and freezer for about 2 hours.

You also have the option to sprinkle the pops with toppings like coconut flakes.

Vampire Punch

This Halloween refreshment is incredibly easy to make and a great alternative to soda. Simply pour POM Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice into clear skeleton glasses and drop in a few eyeballs.

Pomegranate juice is a good source of potassium and POM has no added sugar, fillers, color, or preservatives.

Spooky Pizza

This one is an annual Halloween favorite in my house.

All you need for this spooktacular pizza is a whole wheat crust or pita, pizza sauce, vegan mozzarella cheese slices, olives, and orange cherry tomatoes. Get the full recipe instructions here >>

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy Halloween!

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Weigh-in: What are your favorite healthy Halloween snacks? What’s your favorite Halloween candy?

*This post is sponsored by The Wonderful Company but all opinions are my own.