I have a love/hate relationship with Halloween. I love the costumes, the quality time together and seeing my kids enjoy the seasonal activities. I HATE, however the candy and the attitudes that come along with wayyyy too much sugar.
Now hold up, before you go judging me as a stick in the mud — I really am not a party pooper.
I indulge in some sweets on occasion and I also let me kids partake…it’s the OVER ABUNDANCE of candy that is thrown at them that makes me want to rock back and forth in a corner. They will have school parties, church trunk or treats, candy from Aunts/Uncles/Grandparents and don’t forget the neighborhood Fall Festival…you catch my drift. There just seems to be an over abundance these days and the more research I do, the more I see how addictive and destructive refined sugar can be.
This year, I’m trying something new and making whole foods FUN. So far my kiddos have eaten it up…literally! Here are a few simple, COST EFFECTIVE, Halloween treats that are great alternatives to candy:
1. Baby Bel Monster Cheese
These little cheese snacks just require you to peel off the plastic wrapping and cut a little face into the red wax with a knife. After you have the perfect mouth, push a googly eye onto the sticky wax. This is probably best for older kids who know not to eat the eyeball! HA! Side note: if you don’t want to spend the time cutting a face but want to be festive, I noticed that some stores are carrying Baby Bel cheese with Halloween faces on the wrappers!
2. String Cheese Ghosts
Take a string cheese and draw little eyes and a mouth with a marker. VIOLA’! Who knew cheese could be so fun?!
3. Fruit Cup Halloween Face
Grab some peach or mandarin orange fruit cups from Aldi (I love their prices!), and draw a little face on the outside. Easy and adorable for a classroom party, and they don’t have to be refrigerated!
4. Pumpkin Cuties
Cuties are the absolute BEST this time of year and my kids LOVE to gobble them up just as fast as I bring them into the house. Grab a marker and make them super festive with some jack-o-lantern faces.
5. Banana Ghosts
Cut a banana in half and then simply place two mini chocolate chips on for the eyes! Lollipop sticks from JoAnn’s or Hobby Lobby work best, but a skewer would also work in a pinch. Kick it up a notch and dip your bananas in vanilla yogurt, add chocolate chips and then freeze.
6. Fruit Ka-Bobs
Grab your favorite fruit of choice, skewers, large marshmallows and a Wilton edible ink pen. Draw silly, spooky faces on the marshmallows with the Wilton pen and then push them onto the skewer. These can be served on a platter or push them into a pumpkin so they can stand up!
These are so cute, Jenna!