Ghoulishly Good: Hacks and Tricks for a Healthier Halloween Celebration

Halloween is almost here, and whether you’re hosting a gathering or preparing to trick-or-treat, you might be surprised at how much people appreciate having healthier options available. It’s all about finding that delicate balance of offering holiday dishes that still taste delicious without too much sugar or artificial ingredients.

With a little creativity, we can create nutritious snacks and drinks that are just as spooky and filling as traditional Halloween fare. Here are some of my favorite tricks to make your Halloween treats extra fancy.

Bloody Beet Sauce with Witch’s Fingers

Beetroot hummus has a deep red, almost bloody hue that’s perfect for Halloween. Serve this savory sauce from our Cookbook “Eat Right” with witch fingers made from sliced cucumbers or bell peppers – add almond slices to the tip to give your nails a spooky effect. You can also add carrots, sliced radishes, purple cauliflower, or black bean chips for added color and texture.

The drink that does it all: the espresso martini

Drinks can be an important part of Halloween gatherings, and the espresso martini featured in CRAFT: Eat Fit’s Guide to Making Zero-Proof Cocktailscould be perfect for your party. You can make it with or without alcohol or caffeine, and you can even make it vegan. This is a very versatile drink.

To give it a Halloween theme, consider adding a spooky garnish like a floating lychee eyeball on top or a sprinkle of cocoa powder in the shape of a bat.

Channel your inner Martha Stewart: Fun Halloween Snack Ideas

If you’re looking to get more creative in the kitchen, here are some other festive yet nutritious dishes made with healthy ingredients. If any of these appeal to you, a quick Google search will reveal online recipes that will help you.

Eyeball Deviled Eggs: Use a slice of olive instead of toffee and some red pepper or hot sauce (or some beetroot hummus, as shown above) to create veining and give the dish a spooky look.
Black Bean Soup “Spider Web”: Drizzle full-fat Greek yogurt on top in circular patterns and use a toothpick to create a spider web effect.
Ghost Bananas: For a fun treat for kids, cut bananas in half and add raisins or pomegranate seeds for eyes to create friendly fruit ghosts.
Vampire Fangs: Slice an apple, add peanut butter (or nut butter of choice) between the slices, and stick almond slices or seeds into the peanut butter to create fangs.
Pumpkin fruit assortment: Arrange orange, melon or carrot slices in a pumpkin shape. To create a jack-o’-lantern, use grapes for the eyes and mouth.

From the candy aisle to the kitchen

By incorporating some of these ideas into your Halloween celebrations, you can add delicious holiday dishes that will please everyone. You’ll be happy with what you’re serving as long as you stay away from the added sugar, artificial colors and overly processed ingredients that are often included in traditional Halloween treats.

Beetroot hummus from Cured. About Colombia | Eat Fit Cookbook

Makes 8 servings

4 large beets

Olive oil

2/3 cup tahini paste

2 lemons, zested and juiced

8 cloves garlic, fried with olive oil

1 teaspoon cane vinegar

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon Cured House Seasoning or Cajun Seasoning Blend

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/3 cup garlic infused olive oil or other olive oil

1 pinch of salt

Wash the whole beets and place them in a baking dish. Drizzle generously with olive oil and bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until tender enough to pierce with a fork. Let cool, peel and cut. Combine the beets, tahini, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic olive oil, roasted garlic, cane vinegar, honey, seasonings and red pepper flakes in a food processor and begin blending. While continuing to stir, slowly pour in the olive oil and garlic and continue whisking until smooth. Add a little more olive oil, lemon juice or salt if desired. Serve in a bowl with your favorite toppings.

Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, is a registered dietitian with Ochsner Health and founder of the nonprofit Ochsner’s Eat Fit initiative. For more health tips, tune into Molly’s FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast and follow @MollykimballRD and @EatFitOchsner on social media.