Nothing spells indulgence quite like Halloween does. Have you ever eaten so many sweets at any other time in the year than on Halloween? Unfortunately, it’s easier to give into the lure of bottomless candy bags as a child than as an adult, when every bite makes that much more of a difference.

However, some of us simply don’t want to give into the sugar rush (or let our children do so) and instead try to keep our diet in check, even when temptation thrives. Here are 3 very delicious and fun Halloween finger food recipes that carry the spirit of Halloween and bring the spook to healthy foods.

What I love most about these finger food recipes is that they are cheap and quick to make. Better yet: they require no cooking! All you need are a handful of ingredients to impress your guests, steer your children away from the empty nutrition in candy and keep your dietary goals in line.

1. Boonanas

Makes 8 pieces

Ingredients

• 4 bananas
• 24 dark chocolate chips (70% or above)

Direction

Peel the bananas and chop them in half, width-wise, to make 2 “ghosts”. Next, push chocolate chips into the pointed end of the banana pieces to create the iconic ghost face – the abyss-like eyes and mouth.

2. Mini Citrus Pumpkins

Makes 8

Ingredients

• 8 clementines
• 1 celery stick

Directions

Slice the celery stick in half, along its length and then take one of the now thinner pieces and chop along its length into 1-inch long pieces. Peel the skin off the clementines, keeping all the wedges together and still holding the full clementine shape. Each clementine will act as the pumpkin base. Next, wedge each of 8 celery pieces into the top center of the clementine, where a slight opening exists. And there you have it – healthy mini pumpkins!

3. Apple Chompers

Makes 8

Ingredients

• 2 red apples
• ½ cup chunky peanut butter
• 30 mini marshmallows

Directions

Quarter the red apples along its center stem. Then take each quarter and slice it in half down its length. Generously peanut butter on one side of each of the 16 apple slices. Line 8 of the apple slices with the marshmallows – about 5 per slice. Pair the apple slices together, pushing the peanut butter side of one slice atop the marshmallow side of the other. The red skin of the apple slices should be facing outward, in the same direction. Do this for all the remaining apple slices so you end up with 8 pairs.

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Photo Credit: Cozinhando Fantasias

The post 3 Healthy Halloween Finger Food Recipes (Great for Kids!) appeared first on EcoSalon.

I never think of Halloween until the last possible moment and then I end up with no costume, no plans, and no food ideas. I think it’s my form of rebellion after living in San Francisco for so many years (many of them in the Castro).

I don’t want EcoSalon readers to suffer the same fate so I scoured the web for ideas that involve good food without artificial colors, flavors, or other food additives. You’ll find plenty of tasty treats, a fun cocktail idea, and some general green party tips.

Enjoy a safe, healthy, and green Halloween!

Heidi at 101 Cookbooks helpfully compiled links to all of her Halloween inspired recipes last fall. And there are some good ones here. Caramel apples with all-natural ingredients, toasted pumpkin seeds with creative flavor profiles, and a roasted pumpkin salad that sounds fantastic. Heidi’s recipes are always vegetarian and use all natural, healthy whole foods, so you can’t go wrong.

Because wasting anything edible (including pumpkin seeds) is not green, you’ll definitely want to use this recipe for all-natural Pumpkin Seed Brittle from Alton Brown via The Daily Green.

Martha can always be counted on for the most creative ideas. Here’s a “bleeding heart” martini that uses pickled beets in place of olives. Try some Fair Trade Vodka instead of gin, if you’re so inclined. Or check out Peak Spirits. A small, artisan distillery that produces organic vodka and gin.

Finally, for general green party tips for Halloween or anytime, have a look at these tips from Danny Seo via Epicurious.

Image: Ack Ook

The post Halloween Harvest: Tips, Ideas and Recipes appeared first on EcoSalon.