How to Have a Happy and Healthy Halloween

As Australia continues to embrace the American tradition, known as Halloween, the day where children visit their neighbours and receive candies, lollies, chocolates and other sugary treats. While this may seem innocent on the face of it, many children also end their Halloween celebrations with a trip to the dentist or local doctor. Perhaps even having a close call with tooth decay and diabetes.

However, there are some healthy alternatives you can subsitute sweet treats for but still delight these junior trick or treaters. It is also a chance for you to have fun, get creative and spend quality time with the children.

Here are a few ideas to get you started this Halloween; either for when trick or treaters come knocking or for a spooky party.

Stuffed peppers with a pumpkin face – A fun way to dress up those boring capsicum peppers and create joy on the faces of the children. Simply scoop out the middle and cut a face into one side. Then fill with a selection of pine nuts, red onion, olive oil, garlic cloves, chopped eggplant, cooked quinoa, sun dried tomato paste, and chopped basil. Bake in the oven until the fillings are done.

Stuffed pumpkin – You can choose to use either small or medium sized pumpkins. If little pumpkins are used, you can hand them out as treats. Otherwise, use them to accompany your family Halloween meal. Carve out the middle and fill with cooked rice, fennel, apple, pomegranate seeds and pecans.

Orange jack o lantern – A fun way to get even the fussiest child to like fruit. Start by cutting off the top and removing the orange. Then cut a face into one side and fill with mixed fruit of your choice, including the orange which you just carved out the middle.

Ghost bananas – Sure to be a party favourite and easy to prepare. Simply cut a couple of bananas in half. Be sure to cut diagonally to give them that ghost shape. Insert a popsicle stick into the banana. For the eyes and nose; you can use either choc chips, dates or sultanas.

Mandarin pumpkin – Simply peel a couple of mandarins, set them on a plate and insert a piece of celery in the top to make the stalk. A creative, cheap and healthy way for children to get their vitamin while enjoying a wicked Halloween snack.

Spider grilled cheese sandwich – also perfect to liven up your child’s lunchbox and create a talking point with their friends. Simply lay four breadsticks across the melted cheese before topping with the second slice of toast. Then add two raspberries or blueberries for the eyes,

Zombie fingers – These are also a favourite with the children. First, you will need dates, dark chocolate, peanut butter and oats blended together. Then mold them into the shape of creepy fingers and add almond flakes to each for fingernails.