Top-notch Non-Candy Halloween Goodies to Sink Your Teeth Into
Halloween doesn't have to be all about sugary treats! This year, why not try some fun and nutritious alternatives that are perfect for school parties, trunk or treats, or trick-or-treaters. Here are some creative ideas to get you started.
## Homemade Treats
Get crafty in the kitchen with these adorable and wholesome recipes.
- **No-Bake Chocolate Mice**: Made with almond flour, almond butter, maple syrup, and cocoa powder, these mice are a delicious and easy-to-assemble treat for the holiday season. - **Rice Krispie Marshmallow Brains**: Use healthy swaps like brown rice cereal and naturally sweetened marshmallows to craft eerie, creepy brains that are fun to eat and spooky to look at. - **Frozen Grape Eyeballs**: Push a blueberry into a halved grape, freeze, and serve as "eyeballs." - **Apple Monster Mouths**: Slice apples into wedges, spread with nut or seed butter inside, and arrange almond slices between to look like teeth. - **Ghost and Pumpkin Cut-Outs**: Use cookie cutters to make cheese, whole-grain crackers, or cucumber slices into Halloween shapes. - **Monster-Mash Avocado Toast**: Whole-grain toast topped with smashed avocado, olive-eyed hard-boiled eggs, and veggie-striped monsters make for a healthy and fun breakfast or snack.
## Packaged, Healthier Snack Alternatives
Offer these convenient and healthier options for a sweet treat that won't derail your diet.
- **Individual Fruit Cups or Applesauce Pouches**: Opt for unsweetened or lightly sweetened varieties. - **Mini Popcorn Bags**: Offer plain or lightly seasoned microwave popcorn. - **Trail Mix Cups**: Combine nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and a few chocolate chips for a sweet and savory mix. - **Cheese Sticks or String Cheese Monsters**: Add edible eyes with icing or small olives. - **Granola Bars or Protein Bars**: Choose those lower in sugar and higher in whole grains.
## Edible Activities and Games
Make Halloween even more memorable with these fun and interactive treats.
- **Halloween “Fear Factor” Taste Test**: Serve mini portions of healthy foods with spooky names, and have kids guess what they're eating. - **DIY “Haunted Gingerbread House”**: Use graham crackers, nut butter, and dried fruit for a healthier take on this classic activity. - **Decorate Mini Pumpkins**: Offer edible decorations like seeds and dried fruit, turning pumpkin decorating into a snack-time activity.
With these ideas, you can create a Halloween that's both healthy and full of holiday spirit. Let your creativity be your best ingredient!
*Note: Some of the ideas mentioned in this article require printable decorations, which can be found online.*
Sources: [1] Monster-Mash Avocado Toast: [Link] [2] DIY “Haunted Gingerbread House” and Decorate Mini Pumpkins: [Link] [3] No-Bake Chocolate Mice: [Link] [4] Halloween “Fear Factor” Taste Test: [Link] [5] Rice Krispie Marshmallow Brains: [Link]
- Incorporate science and creativity by making slime using healthy ingredients instead of traditional store-bought slime for a crafts session that aligns with health-and-wellness and food-and-drink.
- Expand your lifestyle choices by serving slime made from nutritious ingredients at a Halloween party, offering an alternative to sugary treats that caters to those following healthy-diets.
- Science meets crafts as you create Rice Krispie Marshmallow Brains using brown rice cereal and naturally sweetened marshmallows, fitting both the theme of Halloween and a healthy-lifestyle.
- Elevate your homemade treats by adding a "slime station" where guests can mold and shape slime during parties, reinforcing the message that Halloween doesn't have to revolve solely around sugary food and drinks.
