10 Halloween Party Snacks That Won't Haunt Your Diet
Even though you may be excited about Halloween approaching, the ubiquitousness of candy corn, caramel apples and chocolate bars can put a haunting halt to your diet.
Overview
Even though you may be excited about Halloween approaching, the ubiquitousness of candy corn, caramel apples and chocolate bars can put a haunting halt to your diet. From homemade trail mix to fruity kabobs, read on to find tasty treats for this year's Halloween party that won't put a shocking end to your healthy lifestyle. Do you have another healthy suggestion for this spooky season? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
1. Colorful Fruit and Veggie Kabobs
Make fruits and veggies festive this October by compiling a healthy kabob buffet. Stacey Antine, a New-Jersey based dietitian and author of "Appetite for Life" recommends arranging a colorful fruit platter with strawberries, grapes, melon balls and apples next to a harvest veggie platter complete with cut carrots, cucumbers, beans and peas for do-it-yourself kabobs. Provide bamboo skewers and allow party guests to create fruit and veggie concoctions separated by cubed low-fat cheddar cheese. "You can give out stickers or prizes for creativity, most veggies or the most colorful kabob," suggests Antine.
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2. The Perfect Chocolate Pop
Just because Halloween is known as the holiday of sweets and candy, it doesn't mean you have to pile on the calories or avoid the scrumptious taste of chocolate. New Jersey-based dietitian, Stacey Antine, suggests an alternative to the standard chocolate bar that will entertain your taste buds without haunting your diet. Whip semisweet chocolates with organic silken, light tofu to cut down on the saturated fat but not the flavor, she suggests. Give the kids skewers or forks and let them dip bananas and strawberries fondue-style and eat them on the spot or freeze them for later. When shopping, look for organic tofu, since about 90 percent of soy grown in the U.S. is genetically-modified. Any product labeled organic does not contain GMOs.
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3. Trail Mix
With candy at every turn, it's tempting to reach for a handful of candy corn. Resist the urge to grab the sweets, and instead create a trail mix that will be irresistible and good for you. Mix almonds, walnuts, peanuts, dried fruit such as apricots, raisins or cranberries with your favorite non-sugared crunchy cereal, suggests dietitian, Stacey Antine. Mix well and make individual bags as treats to take on-the-go, or leave a bowl readily available on the table. Your kids may want to dig into this tasty treat or help create their own mixture of healthy fruits and nuts. "Kids are all about individual choice, so if the options are healthy, it won't matter for the kids as long as they have a choice to pick and choose what they want," says Antine.
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4. Popcorn Balls
Just in time for ghost stories and scary movies, Halloween gives you an excuse to break out the popcorn. This healthy, low-calorie snack contains only 50 calories per cup. According to Kim Hoban, New-York based registered dietitian, popcorn is high in fiber and low in calories and fat, making it the ideal snack for the health-conscious. Put a Halloween twist on this fan favorite by opting for popcorn balls, made from scratch or purchased in grocery stores while in season. This low-sodium snack only contains about 100 calories and will satisfy your sweet tooth.
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5. Carrot Fingers
Although veggies may seem out of place at Halloween, it's possible to give baby carrots a spooky twist. Simply attach a thin almond slice to the end of a baby carrot to make it look like a fingernail. Creepy and crunchy! What's not scary is the nutritional value. With only four calories per carrot, you can enjoy a handful or two. What's more, these carrot fingers are filled with vitamin A.
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6. Pumpkin Seeds
When you carve those jack-o-lanterns, be sure to keep the pumpkin seeds to keep your diet on track. This nourishing snack is convenient, tasty and nutritious. In fact, pumpkin seeds are loaded with magnesium, which helps build bones, and maintain normal nerve, muscle and heart function.
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7. Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie
Pumpkins are symbolic of Halloween but they should also be celebrated for their healthy nutritional profile, as they are high in vitamin A and fiber. Pumpkin can used to make a tasty and nutritious creamy seasonal smoothie. Adding festive fall spices (think cinnamon, ginger, cloves and/or nutmeg), "warms" up this cold drink, making it perfectly suited for this time of year says LIVESTRONG.COM's resident dietitian, Kelly Plowe. "One of my favorite smoothie recipes combines canned pumpkin, a frozen banana, almond milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla protein powder. Spices are a great source of antioxidants and the pumpkin thickens up the smoothie making it a healthy, sweet and spicy treat."
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8. Chocolate Banana
Just because you're watching your weight, it doesn't mean you have to miss out on chocolate treats. Get your sweet fix with a chocolate banana. Simply dip half a frozen banana into two squares of organic, melted dark chocolate for a tasty treat under 100 calories, suggests Judy Nicassio, a nutritionist with Rejuvena Health and Aesthetics in Scottsdale, Arizona. "Dark chocolate is a potent antioxidant, and it's nature's highest source of magnesium and key minerals," she says. Chocolate contains flavonoids, which help to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer." Beyond the health benefits of dark chocolate, you'll also get the benefit of the banana's potassium, an important element for a healthy nervous system and regular heart rhythm, says Nicassio. To get the most benefits, look for a chocolate that is at least 70% cacao.
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9. Apples and Peanut Butter
A fall favorite, apples are in season, and they make a delicious Halloween treat. Instead of dousing your apple in caramel, choose a peanut butter topping. Half an apple and one teaspoon of natural peanut butter contains only 100 calories, says nutritionist, Judy Nicassio. "Peanut butter provides us with good amounts of protein and healthy fats," she adds. Dress up this tasty treat for Halloween by adding raisins arranged in a smiley or spooky face to an apple slice covered in peanut butter.
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10. Snack O'Lantern
Make a healthy decoration and tasty treat using just an orange, suggests the chefs of FamilyFun Magazine. Simply use a small knife to slice the top off a navel orange and cut around its interior to hollow it out. Scoop out the orange segments, chop them up and mix them with additional chopped fruit for a Halloween fruit salad, recommends the magazine in its October issue. Get creative and carve facial features into the orange, then cut a slit in the lid to accommodate the handle of a green plastic spoon. All that's left is the filling to finish off this healthy snack. Fill the orange with fruit salad, insert the spoon and set the lid in place. This one is a hit amongst young kids.
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What Do YOU Think?
Do you think you'll try any of these healthy Halloween treats? Do you have any suggestions to add? What are your favorite healthy Halloween snacks? Leave a comment below and let us know.
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