Halloween is right around the corner, and with the holiday comes endless amounts of candy. In 2022, Americans spent approximately $3.1 billion on candy during the Halloween season. Americans eat around 3.4 pounds of candy on Halloween, and kids consume around 7,000 calories, which equals approximately 3 full cups of sugar. But it’s important to remember that your kids can still enjoy Halloween without all the sugar! So let’s dig into some healthy alternatives to Halloween candy that you and the kids can enjoy this year.
Sweet Treats
Whether it’s something chocolatey or fruity gummies or a snack in between, curbing that sweet tooth without candy—especially during Halloween—can feel impossible. But it’s not! Here are some sweet treats to snack on besides candy:
Dried Fruit
Dried fruit is more concentrated in its nutrients and its sugar content, which means it can even be sweeter than candy! But instead of being filled with chemicals and added sugar, it gives you the natural sugar and nutrients your body needs.
Homemade Popsicles
Making popsicles at home not only gives you a yummy, sweet treat, but can also be a fun activity for you and your kids to do together! To make them, take your favorite fruit and blend it up with water (or milk or yogurt if you want a creamier texture), then pour the mixture into ice trays with sticks, or popsicle molds. Freeze until they’re set and voila! You’ve got popsicles! This is a great way to give your kids something to curb their sweet tooth without all the added sugar.
NICEcream
Making ice cream or sorbet at home is simple, fun, and tasty. For our Reese’s lovers, you could try this peanut butter chocolate chip banana nice cream. For those who like something a little fruitier, give this berry nice cream a go.
Healthy PB Cups
Peanut butter cups are a Halloween staple, but they’re filled with unnecessary fillers and refined sugar. So we found a healthier version that’s easy to make at home! It’s sweetened with maple syrup (though you can use another type of sweetener if you wish), dark chocolate, and natural peanut butter. Give it a try!
Sour Power
Do you remember being a kid and eating sour candies until your jaw hurt? Sour is such an interesting flavor profile but it’s a fun experience. What’s not fun, though, is all the added ingredients, chemicals, dyes, and preservatives in sour candy. But there’s a sour alternative that’s been floating around social media for awhile. Give it a try!
Sour Frozen Grapes
If you like sour patch kids, sour gummy worms, etc…you’ll love these sour frozen grapes! Made with lime juice and monk fruit sweetener, this recipe is a solid way to curb your sour craving without all the added chemicals.
Salty Snacks
Sometimes, opening that bag of your favorite chips just hits right. Or maybe it’s chowing down on salty, buttery popcorn. There are even houses on Halloween that give out Cheez-It® snacks. No matter what the snack is, we all get that salty craving. If you’re looking for healthier alternatives to traditional salty snacks this Halloween, here are some recipes to try.
Homemade Veggie Chips
Making homemade chips—whether it’s from potatoes or another vegetable—is super easy and they’re yummy! It’s an easy way to get that salty crunch you crave without all the preservatives. Here are a few recipes to consider:
Trail Mix
One way to get lots of healthy fats and other nutrients is trail mix! AND…it’s so easy to make at home. When you’re making trail mix, there’s an easy formula to follow: nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and fun stuff (pieces of organic chocolate, popcorn, etc). To make your own salty treat, follow this recipe!
Crispy Roasted Chickpeas
If you liked corn nuts as a kid, or you’re looking for a new salty snack to try, roasted chickpeas are for you! This recipe gives you four different flavors to try. Chickpeas are a great source of protein and carbs, among other vitamins! So curb that salty craving and give yourself a nutrient boost.
Happy Halloween!
Halloween doesn’t have to be filled with sugar and preservatives. So whether you’re going trick-or-treating with your kiddos, having a Halloween party, or doing a local trunk-or-treat, we hope you give some of these recipes a try and have a happy Halloween!
