By: Jacqueline Gomes, RDN, MBA 

Halloween might just be my favorite holidays! All of the excitement surrounding costumes, decorations and chocolate goodies is so much fun. Now that I have my own children I get to share in the spirt if of this fun holiday in some different ways, it’s a great time to talk about better for you treats and how to handle treats at home.

Non-food treats: Create a safe environment by handing out glow-sticks, stickers, toothbrushes, fancy pencil toppers, bookmarks and coloring books.

Handling candy at home

• Keep candy in a location only accessible to you. Consider giving away the candy or disposing of it after a few days.
• Inventory the Halloween treats for forbidden and safe treats; allow a few pieces on Halloween night.
• Give one piece of candy along with a healthy food such as fresh fruit or at the conclusion of a healthy lunch or dinner.
• Always brush your teeth after eating candy – perhaps there is a new toothbrush in your Halloween bag!

Now let’s get to the fun! These toothsome treats are a fun and healthy break from Halloween sweets.

Green Goblin Apples

Makes: 4 Apple Goblins 

Ingredients:

• 1 Granny Smith apple,
• 1 Strawberry, sliced
• 2 Tbsp Peanut butter
• 1 Tbsp Sunflower seeds or slivered almonds
• 6 to 8 Candy eyes*

Directions:

1. Slice apple into quarters and core the apple, cut a wedge on the skin side using a paring knife and remove wedge.
2. Spread peanut butter on the inside of each wedge and then press sunflower seeds or slivered almonds into top portion of apple for “teeth”.
3. Place one sliced strawberry inside mouth for the “tongue”
4. Apply a tab of peanut butter to the back of candy eyes and press into top of apple.

TIP: If you’re not serving apples right away baste with apple with lemon or orange juice to prevent browning.

*If you’re unable to find candy eyes, simply use chocolate chips instead.

Recipe/photo by: Jacqueline Gomes, RDN