Five Healthy Halloween Treats

I’m sure you are aware that Halloween is happening this week and there will no doubt be an onslaught of pre-teens at our doors on the final eve of Octobet crying, “Trick or treat!”. As a parent, I can sympathise with the concern about all the sugary lollies and chocolates that will no doubt be in our children’s hot little hands for the days that follow.

Healthy Treats

For many of us, Halloween is the perfect time to rid ourselves of any sugary lollies that have found their way into the house.You may also be interested, though, in creating some healthy treats. While handing out a banana might not be received as kindly as a sugary treat, it is completely under the rule of Trick OR Treat, if you are questioned. But seriously, whether you offer a healthy option alongside regular treat; for those children who perhaps have allergies; for Halloween themed parties; or just for your own brood, here are few fun ways to decorate your fruit Halloween style or make simple healthy treats.

 

Boo- Nanas and Jack-O’-Oranges

We’ve all tried it before. The humble banana somehow seems much more appetising when mum or dad draws a face on it before popping it in a lunchbox. These Boo-Nanas and Jack-O-Oranges are no exception. The oranges and bananas have obviously just been fancied up with a black marker to create ghoul-like bananas and jack-o’-lantern style oranges. These might be a cute decoration to pop on top of your letterbox or at your front door on Halloween to let the kids in the neighbourhood know that they are welcome to knock on your door.  They could also be a cute lunchbox addition tomorrow for your kids or loved one!

What you need:

• oranges
• bananas
• a permanent marker

How to:

• The Boo-Nanas are easy enough with just three coloured oval shapes for eyes and a mouth. Unless you’re an artist, you may want to practise the toothy smile of the Jack-O-Oranges before attempting it on the fruit.

 

Fruity Monsters

It couldn’t be Halloween without a terrifying monster of some kind! Luckily, these ones are not so scary as they are both delicious and fun to make.

What you need to make eight Fruit Monsters:

• 2 apples
• 2 strawberries
• a handful of sultanas
• a handful of sunflower seeds

How to:

• Core an apple and cut it into quarters
• Cut a wedge from the middle of the apple quarter to make an open mouth
• Slice a strawberry lengthways to make tongues and place into the mouth
• Stick sunflower seeds into the jaw of the apple mouth to make teeth
• Attach a sultana eye or eyes using a sunflower seed

 

Bliss Ball Bats

It’s unlikely we will see the real deal on Halloween in Victoria with daylight saving but these Bliss Ball Bats are still pretty ace.

What you need:

• Half a cup each of almonds, sunflower seeds and pepitas
• A handful of walnuts
• Half a cup of LSA mix
• One teaspoon vanilla extract
• One teaspoon of honey
• Half a cup of water
• Corn chips
• Dark choc chip buttons

How to:

• Pulverise all the ingredients (besides the corn chips and choc chips) into a wet mixture
• Roll the mixture into bliss balls
• Attach the corn chip wings and dark choc chip button eyes

Obviously if you are handing these out you will need to check that the recipients do not have nut allergies. They may be a welcome treat for parents doing the rounds with their kids, or for yourself while you wait for Trick or Treaters!

Spider Pizzas

As the evening wears on, these warm Spider Pizzas might be preferred over the sweet offerings.

What you need:

• Home-made pizza dough or English muffins
• One cup of passata
• Two cups grated cheese
• One cup of olives

How to:

• Use an egg ring to make small circles in rolled out pizza dough
• Spread the passata over the mini pizzas or English muffins
• Sprinkle the cheese over the passate
• Cut and arrange the olives to look like spiders (half an olive for both the head and body, and strips of olives for the legs)

These are a great alternative to lollies or chocolates for Trick or Treaters. They may appreciate something warm to munch on as they walk to the next house.  If not, they could be a great dinner for yourself or your own brood when they arrive home.

How do you do Halloween at your house? Do you have any go-to healthy treats that you give out on the day?