Halloween is quickly approaching and the temptation to indulge in sugary treats and candies is all around us. It can be hard enough to get our children to eat healthily without candy haunting you as you walk through the grocery store.

We know that candy equals cavities, and here at Little Heroes Pediatric Dentistry, we want your kiddos to have the healthiest teeth they can.

Filling up on healthy snacks leave less room for candies and other junk food they may collect on Halloween night. Here are 8 easy-to-make, healthy, and delicious Halloween snacks, for your child to enjoy.

1. Boo-nana Pops

These spooky ghost shaped snacks are easy to make and delicious. Who doesn’t like white chocolate covered bananas?! These snacks will be fun for the whole family to make together on a spooky night.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 medium-sized banana
• 1 cup of white chocolate
• 8 mini chocolate chips or raisins for eyes
• 4 popsicle sticks

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut the banana in half and then into another half to make four quarters. Insert the popsicle sticks into the bananas and freeze them on a wax paper lined cookie sheet.
2. After the bananas have frozen, melt the white chocolate in a microwavable bowl or cup, stirring until the chocolate has fully melted.
3. Dip the bananas into the chocolate and place back on the cookie sheet.
4. Add the chocolate chips or raisins as the eyes before the chocolate hardens.
5. Place back into the freezer until frozen and ready to eat.

2. Candy Corn Parfaits

Another fun and delicious treat for your kids to make is a “candy corn” parfait.

INGREDIENTS:

• Pineapple chunks
• Peaches or mandarin oranges
• Whipped cream
• Candy corn

DIRECTIONS:

Gather your ingredients and parfait jars or glasses. First, spoon in the pineapple chunks into the bottom of the parfait jars. Follow that up with the mandarin oranges or peaches. Top off this sweet concoction with some whipped cream and 1 candy corn – you don’t have to take all the fun out of Halloween.

3. Monster Mouth Recipe

These cute little monster mouth snacks are scrumptious and healthy. Made with apple slices, organic peanut butter, and yogurt covered goji berries, your kiddos will never know this treat is actually good for them.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 granny smith apples (cut into 8 sections)
• 1 cup of creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup of yogurt covered goji berries
• 1 tbsp. Lemon juice

DIRECTIONS:

The first step will involve a little adult supervision; help your children to cut the apples into sections. Then, sprinkle a little lemon juice to prevent browning. Next, spread a small amount of peanut butter on one side of each slice. Stick 4-6 berries on an angle with the peanut butter and then place a second apple slice on top.

Let this scarily sweet treat cool in the fridge for one hour.

4. Pumpkin Oranges

This healthy option is so easy you could do it with your eyes closed. All you will need is oranges and celery. Simply peel the orange, and stick a small piece of celery on top, now you have a super sweet pumpkin!

5. Pumpkin or Skeleton Veggie Trays

For this recipe, you will use plenty of veggies like baby carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli. You can use some dipping bowls as the eyes and your done! No cooking, no mess, and perfect party tray for the Halloween season.

All you have to do is arrange the veggies to look like a pumpkin or skeleton. Check out the images to get an idea!

6. Pretzel Broomsticks

These string cheese bro sticks are really easy to make. You may even have some of the ingredients in your fridge or pantry already.

INGREDIENTS:

• Pretzel sticks
• String cheese
• Chives

DIRECTIONS:  

To make these tasty treats, start by cutting each string cheese in half. Next, carefully press a pretzel stick into the uncut side of each cheese stick. You can use scissors to make the bristles of the broom. Last, gently tie a chive around the top portion of the cheese stick and snip off any long ends.

7. Frankencups

These cups are so cute you won’t even want to eat them. You’ll need clear cups with lids, googly eyes, and grapes.

All you need to do is fill up your clear cup with some delicious green grapes and then have your children draw their Frankenstein monster on the cup. They can then place the googly eyes on the cup.

This snack is convenient for those busy trick or treaters.

8. Spiders on a Log

This snack is a twist on the classic “ants on a log” snack. Kids will love the look of these creepy crawlers!

INGREDIENTS:

• Celery stalks
• Peanut butter
• Chocolate chips
• Chocolate

DIRECTIONS:

This treat is quick to make, all you have to do is cut the celery stalks into quarters and then gently place enough peanut butter the length of the celery stalk. Next, melt some of your chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl. When fully melted, you can then place 1 or 2 chocolate chips on each “log” and then use the melted chocolate to create legs – a toothpick should work perfectly fine to help you form them.

This Halloween season, show your children that you can eat healthily, keep your teeth clean, and enjoy some delicious snacks all at the same time.

 

Call Little Heroes Pediatric Dentistry today and schedule a check-up with our McAllen pediatric dentist! You’ll want to make sure those fangs stay nice and sharp!