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
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
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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