Less Scary Halloween Treats

I’ve been watching the parade of Halloween candy in gigantic bags pile up on the shelves in the local supermarket since back in the late summer.  At the deli, I see orange frosted cookie and cupcakes. Halloween is one of my favorite times of year but it is invariably a time when I struggle with making healthy food choices.  After all, everywhere you look there is candy or some other treat beckoning, whispering “try me, try me”, almost like something out of a scary Halloween flick.  But we can overcome the madness! 

I thought I would take the time to share with you some of the lower calorie and healthier Halloween treats that can be great alternatives to the more traditional Reese’s Cups and Hershey’s Kisses.  Whether you’re having a Halloween party for friends or you’re just looking for healthier trick-or-treat treat ideas for the goblins that come knocking on Halloween night, these ideas are much less scary options (at least from the standpoint of fewer calories and healthier ingredients):

• 100 calorie packs of your favorite cookies and snacks
• Animal crackers
• Apples, frozen bananas, and other fruits
• Baked pretzels
• Boo Chips
• Dried fruit
• Nuts
• Raisins in mini-boxes
• Low calorie hot chocolate
• Trail mix

I also wanted to share a fun and low-cal recipe for one of my favorite seasonal drinks that is perfect for knocking the chill off on a cold October evening -- Apple Cider. I'm a big fan of eating apples, as they are delicious and super healthy.

Apple Cider Recipe
10 cups apple juice (use real 100% juice)
3 cinnamon sticks, 4-in. 
1 strip orange peel
½ teaspoon whole cloves

Combine cider, cinnamon sticks, orange peel, and cloves in a large kettle.  Bring to a rolling boil.  Reduce heat and allow simmering for around 7 minutes.  Serve hot.  Makes 10, 1-cup servings.  We actually served this one year to our trick-or-treaters (and their parents) that were walking around the neighborhood.  It was well-received on a cool Halloween night!

Happy Halloween!

Juliet

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