By Emily-Nicole Johns, 24, reporting from New York, NY, on fun, adorable foods for the spooky season without the ghastly amounts of sugar
When it comes to Halloween, sure, I love the costumes and the extra layer of eyeliner and the DIY decorations. But my absolute favorites are the treats you can eat! Candy corn, monster pops, chocolate zombies, jelly brains, popcorn balls, and ANYTHING pumpkin-flavored…. I know, I’m scaring myself, too. If your October sweet tooth is anything like mine, who am I to say boo about it? You don’t have to deprive yourself. But it is worth working some whole foods into your diet of severed gummy fingers. The simple snacks here are Halloween central and great alternatives to taking in ghastly amounts of artificial ingredients and sugar.
Peanuts: Peanuts have little to no additives and preservatives and are packed with rich omega-3 fatty acids that boost brain function. For Halloween, you can turn these nuts into creepy little menaces by spraying them with black food coloring and water and roasting them in the oven for 20 minutes at 250 degrees.
Pretzels: These twisted snacks are surprisingly (and awesomely) high in calcium and vitamin B, which can help your eyesight in the haunted house. One tasty way to work them into a Halloween party is to sandwich almond butter between two whole-wheat crackers and stick pretzel "legs" into the sides. Add raisins for eyes (or craisins, if you’re after the bloodshot look). Another fun and adorable option—pretzels dressed as pumpkins!
Pumpkin: Don't even get me started on how much I love a pumpkin. Not only is this guy delicious, it's good for you, too! Pumpkin delivers vitamin C and fiber and enhances your immune system, essential during the cold season. The seeds are superstars as well. They help build stronger bones (no skeletons here!) and are absolutely delicious when roasted and topped with savory or sweet seasonings. Tessa, a college student turned cookbook author has a wonderful (almost) healthy pumpkin chocolate chip square recipe.
Apples: Apples are straight up your friend. They’re full of fiber, promote weight loss and are good for the heart. When it comes to Halloween and this fruit, I'm right back at a haunted corn maze, dressed like a Power Ranger (pink, obviously) and eating one covered in candy or caramel! For a healthier, homemade version of the caramel apple we all grew up with, check out this AWESOME recipe.
Popcorn: Popcorn is definitely one of my favorite snacks, all year round. And I just found out that it’s apparently rich in antioxidants, which help protect our cells from toxins. Hellooo Poptober! Here are ten ways to put a spooky spin on it.
Now stop your Snicker-ing and have a happy, healthy Halloween!
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