Your Guide to a Guilt-Free Halloween

Trick-or-Treating is a fun time for many of us… that is until the kids are on a sugar high and your fat loss goals are out the window. But taking a “cold turkey” approach can lead do binging later on. Instead, here are Six Tips to Healthy Halloweening!

1. Reach for Fruit First

Even if it means you’re the neighbor passing out boxes of raisins….

2. Pick your Sweeteners with Care

3. Take the Dark Chocolate

Sure there’s chocolate in your Halloween candy, but reach for 75% dark chocolate or higher to reap the heart health benefits.

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4. Think Tiny Portions

Portion size matters (even when it comes to fruit) and when it comes to desserts, learn to savor a few bites and put the rest away.

5. Practice Moderation

Healthy, wholesome treats are just that, treats and not meant to be eaten regularly. And if you are eyeing that candy bar, enjoy a bite, not the whole bar.

6. Don’t Steal the Kids candy!

What I mean to say is, go out and walk (exercise) and really earn that reese’s peanut butter cup. While I don’t advocate rewarding exercise with food, without exercise, even healthy treats can lead to extra weight.

And remember, have a spooktacular night!

Looking for a healthier way to enjoy your Halloween treats? Give these Candy Corn Cookie Dough Bites a try!

Don’t like candy corn? Go ahead and use a bit of your favorite Halloween candy.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cashews (preferably raw)

• 1/2 cup gluten free oats

• 2 Tablespoons maple syrup or raw, local honey

• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

• (optional) 1/4t butter extract

• 3 Tablespoons candy corn (feel free to sub pieces of your favorite Halloween treat)

Directions

Place cashews, cinnamon and oats in a food processor and blend until finally ground.  Now add your liquid ingredients and process for about 3 minutes.  In that time, the “batter” should form a very thick ball (it may possibly begin to roll around in the processor…It’s kind of funny).

 Finally, add your candy corn and process just enough so  the candy corn breaks apart and is incorporated.  The batter ball will break apart, but your done, so no worries.  Scoop the batter with a spoon and roll it between your palms to form walnut sized cookie bites.

These bites are like raw cookie dough goodness minus eggs, oil, dairy and most the junk you find in “real” raw cookie dough. If you want to make these completely vegan, omit the candy corn and add cacao nibs or dairy-free chocolate chips and you’ll have raw chocolate chip cookie dough bites. But really, it’s Halloween and you should enjoy the little things, like carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating, and eating candy corn!