Spooky treats

Not all Halloween treats need to be loaded with sugar and calories. You can create some spooky foods for children or party guests that are healthy and fun to snack on, with little effort.

Apple monsters

Green apples and peanut butter, a great combination to begin with, can become goofy monster mouths with the addition of some pumpkin seeds for teeth and a triangle of cheddar cheese (or strawberry slice) for a tongue, for example.

Apple Monsters Recipe

Mummy cookies

Who can turn down a cookie, especially if they’re pumpkin flavored and decorated with strands of vanilla icing and googly eyes? Suddenly, this cookie becomes a friendly-looking mummy.

Mummy Cookies Recipe

Veggie skeleton

Planning a Halloween party? Make your snack table’s centerpiece a skeleton made entirely of vegetables, complete with ranch dipping sauce.

Veggie Tray Skeleton Recipe

Roasted pumpkin seeds

Northbay Health’s Registered Dietitian, Laura O’Mary, suggests you save pumpkin seeds when carving pumpkins.

“Pumpkin seeds are such a wonderful source of protein, fiber and magnesium,” she noted. “You can roast and season them in so many different ways. You can go the sweet route by adding cinnamon and brown sugar or the savory route by adding salt, pepper and garlic powder. You can even make a sweet and spicy version by adding brown sugar and cayenne.”

Frozen boo-nana pops

Here’s a favorite recipe of Laura’s for a spooky dessert from one of her favorite websites.

Frozen Boo-Nana Pops Recipe

If you’d like more guidance on incorporating nutritious recipes and other healthy choices into your life, you can schedule an appointment with Northbay Health dietitian, Laura O’Mary at 707-624-7900.