Healthy Halloween treats for little ghouls and goblins

Halloween is around the corner and so are the piles of candy that come with it. Here are some simple and healthy treats for your little ghouls and goblins to try before the sugar rush ensues. 

Jack O-is-for-Orange Lantern

Ingredients you will need:
1 orange
1 cup blueberries
1 cup topped and quartered strawberries

Rinse all fruit in cold water and dry. Slice top off of orange. Insert a paring knife into opening and angle toward the skin, being careful not to pierce through rind. Twist the orange around until you have a circle in the meat of the fruit. Angle the knife toward the center and repeat the process. You should be able to remove the bulk of the insides.

Choose a side on which to carve the face and, using a knife, scrape away remaining flesh from the rind in that area. When carving the face, you can either use a stencil or go free-hand. Use a paring knife to carve out the face and a pair of small scissors to help clean up the edges. Fill with strawberries and blueberries or any of your child's favorite fruit. If you are sending this to school for lunch, replace the orange top and wrap in cellophane for spill-free transport.

Black Bean Hummus Graveyard

Puree beans, garlic, cumin, lemon juice, salt and pepper in food processor or blender. If you use a blender, you will need to stop several times and scrape down the sides with a spatula to get a consistent mix. Slowly add water while pureeing until you reach desired consistency.

Spread the mixture into a 1-2-inch-deep round casserole dish. Place pretzels along the edge to create a gate. Cut off banana 2 inches from the top. Take the top piece and slice it lengthwise four times to make tombstones, or use chips as a substitute. Insert leafy celery stalks into hummus to act as trees. Serve with chips and celery.

Snake in the Grass

Slice banana and carrot into 1/2-inch discs. Set aside the largest strawberry. Slice the thicker part of remaining strawberries into 1/2-inch discs. Stack banana, carrot and strawberry slices into an S shape using the small end of the carrot as a tail.

Using a paring knife, cut a V shape into the thin end of large strawberry. Cut the removed segment lengthwise into a thin strip for the tongue. Use remaining piece to prop the snake's head up once he is fully assembled. Slice blueberry in half. Place a small amount of peanut butter or honey on the flat side and place blueberries on the head where the eyes would go. Place head at the end of the body. Garnish with chopped lettuce or spinach.

Guac-enstein's Monster

Ingredients  you will need:
1 ripe avocado
1 teaspoon diced cilantro
1/2 teaspoon of lime juice
1 tablespoon finely diced red onion
Salt and pepper
12 blue chips
1/4 red pepper
1/4 orange pepper
8 blueberries
4 pieces of toasted multi-grain bread

Using a fork, combine avocado, cilantro, lime juice, onion, salt and pepper. Spread mixture evenly across toast. Slice red pepper into smiles and slice orange peppers into bolt shapes. Break chips up for hair. Build Frankenstein-like faces using the peppers and add blueberries for the eyes.

All photos by Tom D'Intino.