A Healthier Halloween

Halloween is one of those holidays that most people have a love-hate relationship with and seems to have shifted from its Celtic origins toward an orgy of candy eating. If you have younger children (neices, nephews, or great friends) it’s a fabulous time when kids can pick a costume, exercise their creativity, join fun parties, and have a bit too much candy.  But for most people, including most of my friends who have children under the age of 12, it’s a challenging time when unhealthy “treats” abound and excessive sweets are problematic. And, the indulgence isn’t limited to kids.  I’ve been to numerous Halloween related functions for adults and we were served jack-o-lantern cookies and cupcakes, and lots of other themed dishes that seemed to be heavy on the sugar and salt, but low on vegetables and fruits. Although it’s fine to have just one night when dietary habits go out the window, it’s also possible to serve healthy foods and snacks and have some fun as well.  The following are some great seasonally related options:

–Have an apple bobbing party and focus the food around apples including apple sauce and pork or chicken, cabbage and apples, and salad of fresh greens and apples.  For dessert, have an apple crisp without too much sweetener since seasonal apples are much sweeter.

–Have a pumpkin carving party and focus a menu around pumpkin including, curry pumpkin soup, pumpkin sauteed with spinach and bacon; or use pumpkin in any recipe that called for butter nut squash for a pumpkin, black bean chili.

–If your having a crowd over for dinner on or near Halloween have dishes that incorporate Fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.  I make a Moroccan chicken or lamb stew with pumpkin and chickpeas. It’s seasoned with cinnamon and cumin (recipe coming soon).

–Instead of the usual candy for kids (of all ages), get creative with lots of other options:
*Non-food items including small toys, decks of cards, stickers, craft supplies, etc…
*Trail mix made with healthy cereal, nuts, dried fruit
*Popcorn, try seasoning with fun seasonings such as cajun pepper
*Fresh fruit, try a wide variety of apples and pears too
*Dried fruit, in small bags, dried apricots or apples are usually popular
*Homemade granola bars
*Homemade breakfast cookies made with less sugar, more oatmeal, fruit and nuts

shared at Works for Me Wednesday