Healthy Halloween-Inspired Snacks

You can always tell when Halloween rolls around because pumpkins seem to pop up on every doorstep, spooky decorations adorn neighbors’ windows and heaping bags of candy pile up at local stores. It can be tempting to indulge in sweets around this time of year, but you can also prepare plenty of healthy Halloween treats without feeling guilty about ruining your diet.

Healthy Recipes for Halloween

If you’re in the market for healthy Halloween food ideas, look no further! We’ve scoured the internet to find you a variety of delicious--and nutritious--Halloween-inspired foods that you can make at home. And there’s no reason why you can’t continue preparing these healthy recipes long after Halloween has passed.

Slow-Cooker Pumpkin Chili

A slow-cooker, or crockpot, is great way to ease yourself into cooking without feeling the pressure of burning your meal. With a slow-cooker, you literally can “set it and forget it!” This recipe for slow-cooker pumpkin chili from food blog Skinny Taste, is a great low calorie afternoon pick-me-up for the fall.

INGREDIENTS

• cooking spray
• 2 lb 99% lean ground turkey
• 1/2 tsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp chili powder, to taste
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• 2 (15 oz cans) white northern or navy beans, rinsed and drained
• 15 oz can pumpkin puree (or homemade)
• 4.5 oz canned chopped green chile
• 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
• chopped cilantro and chives for topping
• salt and pepper to taste
• low fat sour cream for topping (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat a large heavy saute pan over high heat and lightly spray with oil.
2. Add meat and cook, breaking it up until white, about 5 minutes.  Add to crock pot.
3. Add oil to the saute pan, then onions, garlic, sauté about 3 - 4 minutes; add cumin and sauté another minute. Add to crock pot.
4. Add beans, pumpkin puree, green chilis, broth, chili powder, oregano, and bay leaves.
5. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
6. Remove bay leaves and adjust seasoning to taste before serving.

Black and Orange Fruit Salad

A fruit salad is always a great pick-me-up, especially when you are craving something sweet. Instead of reaching for that Halloween candy, however, you can indulge your sweet tooth with some fruit.

A black and orange fruit salad is one of those healthy Halloween treats that you can create with many different combinations:

• Cantaloupe slices and blackberries
• Orange slices and blueberries
• Peach slices and red grapes

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread

If you are a fan of banana bread or zucchini bread and are looking for Halloween-inspired healthy recipes, then we have a great option for you: whole wheat pumpkin bread! As a bonus, the creative recipe from iFoodReal, a clean eating blog, does not include any added sugar. It can be eaten as breakfast, an afternoon snack, or even dessert!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 eggs, large
• 1 cup applesauce, unsweetened
• 15 oz can pumpkin puree (I use organic BPA free)
• 3/4 cup honey or maple syrup*
• 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 1/2 tbsp baking powder, aluminum free
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp himalayan pink salt
• 1 cup oat flour**
• 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds + more for decorating
• Cooking spray (I use Misto)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, line 9 x 5 loaf pan with unbleached parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs for 10 seconds. Add applesauce, pumpkin puree, maple syrup or honey, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, salt and whisk well until mixture is smooth and no visible lumps.
3. Add oat flour and whole wheat flour; mix gently just enough to combine. Be careful not to over mix. Add walnuts and pumpkin seeds; give a few more gentle stirs to combine. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and level gently with spatula. Sprinkle with a handful of pumpkin seeds. Bake for 90 minutes our until the toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
4. Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack to cool off for 30 minutes. Holding onto the flaps of parchment paper remove pumpkin bread from a loaf pan and let it cool off completely before slicing. This bread is dense and delicate. Slice into 12 thicker slices with serrated bread knife.
5. Storage Instructions: Store covered in a cool dry place for up to 5 days. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Note:  This pumpkin bread is mildly sweet but sweet enough for a clean tooth. You can probably add another 1/4 cup of sweetener if you so choose.

Beyond Healthy Halloween Treats

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