Top Healthy Halloween Party Snacks
We like to think of Halloween as a kids’ holiday, but we all know that even though we are too old for Trick or Treating, we are not immune to Halloween’s sugary treats.
Office parties, costume parties and get-togethers are all full of cookies and candies, but you don’t have to contribute to the sugar overload. Whether you are trying to lose weight or just don’t want to eat all of the crap, here are some healthy snacks you can bring to your festivities that are still in the Halloween spirit.
Puking Pumpkin Dip
Hollow out a small pumpkin, and carve a jack-o-lantern face. Place the pumpkin on a platter. Fill the pumpkin with a healthy, creamy dip like hummus or guacamole, and spoon some of the dip out of the Jack-o-lanterns mouth to get a puking effect. Arrange lots of fresh vegetables and pretzels around the pumpkin for dipping.
Pumpkin Seeds
Take your left over pumpkin guts and separate the seeds from the goop. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Rinse the seeds and place them on a paper towel to dry. Prepare a baking sheet with non-stick spray, and spread out seeds in an even layer. Sprinkle with salt, or other desired spices. Bake for 10-20 minutes until crisp, turning once. Store in an airtight container.
Orange Jack-o-Lanterns
Hollow out a few oranges by cutting a hole in the top and scooping out the insides. Fill the orange with vanilla yogurt, and serve with slices of fruit. To make a face, cut out shapes with fruit and secure with toothpicks.
Pumpkin Sandwich Cookies
NOTE: make sure you use pumpkin puree, which is very healthy, NOT pumpkin pie filling which isn’t even close. Take some graham cracker sheets and break them in half. Smear one side with pumpkin puree. Top with whatever healthy ingredients that sound good: nuts, granola, raisins, etc. Place the other half of the graham cracker sheet back on top. For more of an indulgence, add chocolate chips, fat free cream cheese (it’s good, trust me) or marshmallows.
Orange and Black Tray
Vibrant colored foods tend to be more healthy, so we are lucky orange is part of the Halloween color scheme. Pair healthy orange foods with black bean dip for dunking. Try: orange bell pepper slices, carrot sticks, sweet potato chips or fries, orange tomatoes, or sliced baked butternut squash.
