Halloween Food Ideas for Kids

Balance out the Halloween sugar rush with some healthy options.

Kids can be picky eaters, so use the Halloween holiday as an excuse to make a variety of creative foods that they might not otherwise be inclined to try. For instance, present your snacks in a playful way, and keep your ghoulish creations healthy by using ingredients like fruits and vegetables; this should help balance out all the sugar they'll be eating after the annual candy haul.

Veggie Platter

Vegetables are probably the No. 1 food that kids have the most gripes about eating, so it may seem like a lost cause to try to serve them on Halloween. However, a creative presentation can make all the difference in how kids respond to being served a plateful of veggies. Fortunately, you have a variety of inspirations that stem from commonly recognized Halloween symbols to assemble your snack. For instance, try constructing a skeleton on a platter using fresh, colorful vegetables like bell pepper strips, carrots, celery, broccoli, and mushrooms; your kids should get a kick out of choosing which "bone" to eat first. For a gross-out option, carve a small cooking pumpkin like a jack-o'-lantern and spoon some dip so that it's spilling out from the mouth and onto the plate; surround your "puking pumpkin" with a variety of fresh vegetables for dipping.

Freaky Fruits

Fruits are usually a little easier to get kids to eat since they're sweeter than vegetables, but when it comes to the decision between a candy bar and a plain piece of fruit, it's usually the candy that wins. However, giving fruits a creepy makeover for Halloween can make a big difference. Make "monster eyes" by preparing some red gelatin mix and placing it in an ice cube tray. Once the gelatin has set halfway, place a grape in the center of each tray compartment and then let the eyeballs finish setting. Another fruity idea is ghost bananas; cut peeled bananas in half, dip them in orange juice, and then roll them in shredded coconut, adding two raisins for eyes and a popsicle stick to make these a freaky, frozen treat.

Petrifying Pizzas

For a healthy alternative to regular pizza, use pita bread or English muffins to make kid-sized personal pizzas. Allow the kids to decorate the pizzas to look like spooky faces or jack-o'-lanterns using a variety of healthy toppings like low-fat cheese or sliced vegetables. Bake the finished creations and serve them to your kids for a yummy Halloween dinner.

Monster Fingers

This creepy snack just requires some lean hot dogs and ketchup. Make the hot dogs according to the directions, and then slice them once lengthwise and again in half. Arrange the sliced hot dogs on a plate and then cover them in ketchup; tell your kids these are severed monster fingers and serve them as a creepy snack. In the case of dietary restrictions, substitute other items to take the place of the hot dogs and ketchup, like carrots and salsa, for instance.

References

• 365 Halloween: Creative Veggies-Healthy Halloween Party Food Ideas
• Nourish Interactive: Healthy Halloween Party Food Recipes