My family loves Halloween! In fact, in the early days we were trick-or-treating (store-bought sweet Halloween candy… thrills!). Now that my kids are older, I’ve found a healthy balance with Halloween food ideas. We buy candy made with better ingredients (and make sure to buy non-candy snacks too).
Recreating your Halloween dinner plans is another way to make peace with this sugar-filled holiday. These festive yet healthy Halloween recipes are perfect for a quick snack before or after trick-or-treating, and they’re also a great way to make Halloween fun at home! You can also serve these healthy Halloween treats at your next Halloween party.
There are a few healthier dessert treats on this list, but many of these recipes are perfect for appetizers or meals. Halloween cakes, caramel apples, brownies, and Halloween cupcakes may be crowd-pleasers, but they actually add some sugar to the night!
Healthy Halloween Recipes & Halloween Food Ideas (Mom Recommended!)
Some of these recipes are original creations and some are great ideas adapted from other recipes. I chose the following Halloween food ideas:
- Get nutrition (healthy fats, proteins, vitamins, etc.).
- Made with real food
- It’s easy for kids to make (see my parenting rule: Mom doesn’t have to do everything!)
After all, playing with food is really fun. These easy-to-prepare recipes will leave you with time to do all the costume making and face painting you want!
1. Spiderweb Pancakes
Start your day with grain-free pumpkin pancakes. Melt the chocolate (because it’s Halloween) and then drizzle it with a spoon as quickly as a spider, “spinning” a dramatic and delicious web on top of each stack. You can also make it by melting cocoa butter wafers with a little honey. white chocolate version.
2. Banana Ghost
My youngest daughter looks forward to making these super simple banana “ghosts” every year. Peel a banana, cut it in half, press chocolate chips into the end of the banana to make eyes, and open sliced almonds to make a howling mouth! Stand them upright on the flat end of a chocolate-covered plate for a cute self-serve Halloween dessert.
3. Clementine “Pumpkin”
Halloween party food couldn’t be easier or healthier. Peel the mandarin or clementine oranges, being careful to keep the orange segments intact. Add thinly sliced celery to the opening of the orange and voila! Here are some adorable pumpkin-like Halloween treats that little kids (and adults) will love.
Prepare a whole plate or serve it on a small dessert plate with dinner (because you’ll be eating a lot of actual dessert later!).
4. Jack O’Lantern Stuffed Pepper
Most of us have made stuffed peppers before. A fun and healthy spooky meal that’s easy to make!
Use 8-10 bright orange peppers. Cut off the top, remove the seeds, and cut a smiling (or scary) jack-o’-lantern face into the side. Top with Philly Cheesesteak topping (our favorite) or a more traditional filling, grill and enjoy!
Or make it as a Halloween appetizer. Prepare the orange bell peppers the same way, but leave them raw and fill them with the cream-free cheese dip and chopped vegetables.
5. Watermelon Monster Head
I’ve seen watermelon fruit baskets… how about a watermelon monster head? Much healthier than candy apples and much tastier than candy corn (sorry if you like candy corn!). Cut the watermelon in half, scoop out the rind, and cut out the jagged mouth. Place it upside down on a fruit salad plate and add fruit slice eyes to the watermelon “head.” It looks like this spooky Halloween monster has lost its lunch that kids will love and devour!
6. Meatloaf Mummy
We make meatloaf cupcakes regularly (like mini meatloaf with whipped sweet potato “frosting”). For Halloween, use white mashed potatoes piped on top with a flat icing tip and decorated to suit the occasion. Add a couple of green peas for eyes and your meal will look like a mini bandaged mummy!
7. Witch’s Beer Smoothie
Shhh… This is the green smoothie recipe I make every day! Cucumbers and limes give it a bright green vibe that’s perfect for Halloween. Give it a new name and serve it with a garnish of peeled grapes (eyeballs) and you have a spooky treat kids won’t be able to resist.
8. Mulled cider (or wine!)
These “treats” are one of the best ways to add natural hygge and make your home feel more cozy and inviting. Plus it smells amazing! All you have to do is add spices to cider (or wine for adults around the house!), simmer for a long time, and serve warm.
9. Pumpkin Soup or Chili
If you haven’t tried smooth and creamy pumpkin soup for a fall meal, you’re missing out! Pumpkins are plentiful in gardens and markets this time of year. This soup is inexpensive and makes a great potluck meal. It’s easy to make, requires minimal preparation, and is easy to keep warm until ready to eat.
You can also add pumpkin to your chili, which is one of my favorite sneaky veggie boosting tricks.
10. Noodles or Shirataki Noodles (for “Brains”)
I have a whole post about shirataki noodles, but these unusual noodles have a perfectly slippery feel that masquerades as a “brain”! You can also use a spiralizer to make peeled pumpkin noodles. Serve it with alfredo sauce or Thai peanut sauce and it gives your brain that “gooey” feel that makes it savory and fun at the same time.
11. String Cheese Ghost
If you’re packing a lunch, these super easy mozzarella string cheese ghosts are a cute, protein-packed snack. Use a Sharpie to draw a friendly or spooky ghost face!
12. Creepy Pork Board
There’s no end to how creative you can get with a charcuterie board. Especially if it’s Halloween themed! Cut the cheese using a Halloween-shaped cookie cutter, then add clementine pumpkins (above) and olive “eyes.” String cheese and green pepper “fingers” also sound good. You can add cheese balls to dip the vegetables.
13. Deviled eggs (of course!)
I didn’t even have to come up with a name for this! You can make your devil’s eggs even more sinister by adding black olive spiders. Or you can fill it with beet puree and top it with olives to make your “eyeballs bleed.” Either way, they’re packed with protein and fat, which fill kids’ tummies and help regulate blood sugar.
14. Vegetable Tray Skull
Who said vegetables can’t be dressed too? My kids inherited this Halloween tradition from me and have fun creating different characters each year. And I’m glad you provide vegetables too! They learned their knife skills in an online cooking class for kids a few years ago, and now it’s paying off!
Serve with hummus or real ranch dip.
15. Halloween Cookies
Instead of sugar cookies sprinkled with sugar and topped with sprinkles or Oreos, try healthier homemade cookies. Make delicious gingerbread cookies. Instead, use Halloween-themed cookie cutters. Or mix cream cheese and honey to make a pipeable frosting and decorate molasses cookies with “spider webs.”
16. Spooky Meatballs
Here’s another protein-packed main dish or Halloween appetizer. You can make meatball “eyes” by adding sliced green olives to the top. Wrap it with spaghetti squash noodles and tomato sauce for a spooky mummy look.
17. Ghost Marshmallow
These spooky ghost marshmallows are made with honey and contain gut-healthy gelatin and probiotics. Instead of candy eyes, try drawing a ghost face by tapping melted dark chocolate with a toothpick. Mom (or older kids) can make the marshmallow mixture and kids can pipe it into a tray and decorate it.
Do you have any ideas for a spooky and fun Halloween menu? Share your favorite real food Halloween food ideas!
