Festive, Fun & Healthy Halloween Treats

Halloween is upon us and candy will be present over the next several days…an excellent reason to make our meals, delicious, satisfying and nutrient-rich AND fun!

Did you know that diabetes and gluten sensitivity go hand-in-hand? As a health & nutrition coach I am seeing both more frequently and in younger and younger people.

Do we have to choose between a Trick OR a Treat?! Let’s create festive, Hip, Simple, Fabulous™ Fall foods – just in time for Halloween. Enjoy!

xo

You won’t want to miss my Hip, Simple, Fabulous™ Holiday Tips…Join me! Find me on Facebook  here or Twitter @HipSimpleFabGF.

JACK O LANTERN FRUIT CUP

INGREDIENTS

Navel oranges

Fresh fruit, finely chopped including:

Strawberries

Bananas

Grapes

Melon, etc.

METHOD

1. To make one lantern, use a small knife to slice the top off a navel orange and cut around its interior to hollow it out. (or use a curved grapefruit knife)

2. Scoop out the orange segments. Chop them.

3. In a medium bowl add chopped orange and chopped fresh fruit to make your salad. Set aside.

4. Carve small facial features in one side of the orange. Cut a slit in the lid to accommodate the handle of a green plastic OR (even better!) a bamboo recyclable spoon.

5. Fill each lantern with fruit salad.

6. Insert the spoon and set the lid in place. Refrigerate. Serve chilled.

PUMPKIN ROLL-UPS

INGREDIENTS

Cream cheese or a non-dairy substitute, such as Tofutti

Sun-dried-tomato tortillas or Rudi’s Gluten-Free Fiesta Tortillas

Toothpicks

Cilantro or parsley sprigs

METHOD

1. Spread cream cheese lightly onto tortillas.

2. Roll them up and then cut into 1-inch sections.

3. Place a cilantro or parsley sprig on top and secure with a toothpick.

PIZZA MUMMIES

INGREDIENTS

Gluten-Free english muffins or bagels
Pizza sauce
Black olives
Scallions or green bell pepper
Grated cheese or non-dairy Daiya shreds or sticks of string cheese

METHOD

1. Heat the oven to 350º F. For each mummy, spread a tablespoon of pizza sauce onto half of an English muffin or bagel.

2. Set olive slices in place for eyes and add round slices of green onion or bits of green bell pepper for pupils.

3. Lay strips of cheese across the muffin for the mummy’s wrappings.

4. Bake for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the bagel/muffin is toasty.

GOBLIN GRINS

INGREDIENTS

Snap Peas

Red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes or small pepperoni slices

Slivered almonds

METHOD

1. For each Goblin Grin, use the tip of a paring knife to cut a slit down one side of an edible snap pea pod. *Definitely a parent’s job!

2. Cut out a tongue shape from red bell pepper or slice a cherry tomato in half or use a small pepperoni slice. Insert the top of it through the opening in the pea pod.

3. For the finishing touch, insert a few slivered almonds for teeth!

CREEPY CRACKERS

INGREDIENTS

Gluten-Free or rice crackers

Flavored cream cheese, hummus or black been dip

An assortment of edible features (almost like Mr. Potato HeadJ)

METHOD

1. For each Creepy Cracker, top with flavored cream cheese, hummus, bean dip.

2. Decorate with edible features.

3. Faces pictured have cheese teeth, salami and cornichon-slice tongues, a cauliflower brain, olive-slice eyes, carrot and scallion hair, a carrot nose, and bell pepper mouth.

BLACK BEAN CAT CRUDITE

INGREDIENTS

Black Bean Dip (see recipe below)

Assorted fresh vegetables, including:

Celery
Cherry tomatoes
Broccoli
Carrots
Green beans
Mushrooms
Zucchini

INGREDIENTS

1 15.5-ounce can of black beans
1/3 cup medium-hot salsa + 1 tablespoon for garnish
1/4 cup cilantro leaves + extra for garnish (optional)
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
l garlic clove, minced

METHOD

1. Makes 1 1/4 cups and serves 4 to 6. Recipe is easily doubled.

2. Drain and rinse the black beans, setting aside l tablespoon for garnish eyes, nose or mouth.

3. Combine the black beans, salsa, cilantro leaves, lemon juice and garlic in a food processor or high powered blender. Blend until smooth.

4. Garnish with the black beans and, if you like, cilantro leaves or salsa.

5. Arrange vegetables in the shape of a cat and cat features, as shown.

BANANA COCONUT GHOSTIES

INGREDIENTS

1 cup dried shredded coconut, unsweetened

6 raisins
12 mini chocolate chips (such as Enjoy Life minis)
3 bananas
1.5 cups of orange juice (You can drink it after you dunk the bananas!)
6 Popsicle sticks

METHOD

1. Cut the banana in half width-wise.

2. Insert a popsicle stick into the flat end.

3. Freeze for a few hours, then dip in orange juice, followed by shredded coconut.

4. Place two chocolate chips for your ghostie eyes and a plump raisin for the mouth.

5. BOO!

Several of these recipes have been adapted from Spoonful.

 

© Copyright Clea Shannon 2009-2012

Eat Inspired Today™ LLC

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