Happy Halloween Everyone!

It’s a spooky day to be sure as this could very well be the start of your Holiday eating season.

We all know how slippery that sugar slope can be and Halloween candy can trigger the start of what we call the “Seasonal 7.”  That’s how many pounds the Average American gains between Thanksgiving and New Years.

Before you watch this segment, please know that while I am comparing different Halloween treats for damage control, I recommend skipping the candy entirely!  All of these examples are nutritionally void, full of sugar, fat and artificial colors and ingredients.

Scroll down for some alternate ideas to celebrate the day without tooth decay (and diabetes, and cancer and insulin resistance)….

Check out these healthy alternative Halloween treats.
(and if you don’t have time to cook, try passing out suckers or lollipops instead of any of the candy above)

Spiders on a Log This after-school classic gets a creepy crawly twist for Halloween. Your kids will gobble down this protein-packed snack so fast you’ll think the spiders carried them off the table! You’ll need: Celery sticks, Natural peanut butter, Plastic spiders Directions: Slice celery sticks crosswise. Fill each stick with peanut butter and arrange on a platter. Let the kids have fun decorating the snack with plastic spiders … just be sure to remove them before digging in!
Darkly Delicious Apples Did you know that the pairing of dark chocolate and apples create an antioxidant-rich dynamic duo that may help protect your heart? Here’s our heart-healthy and tooth-friendly twist on traditional candied and caramel apples. You’ll need: 4 apples, Sticks, 1 cup dark-chocolate baking discs or chips, Parchment paper Directions: Remove the apple stems and insert the sticks into the top of the apples. Melt the dark chocolate baking discs or chips in a double boiler (or just insert metal bowl into a pot of boiling water). When the chocolate has melted, slowly rotate each apple until all sides are covered in chocolate. Place on a tray lined with parchment or wax paper and set in the fridge to cool.
Chocolate Pretzel Webs Spin pretzel sticks into a healthy Halloween treat with these chocolate webs. These easy-to-make nibbles have a salty-sweet combo that will satisfy any candy-bar craving. You’ll need: Pretzel sticks, White chocolate chips, Dark chocolate chips, Raisins Directions: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and arrange thin pretzel sticks in a starburst shape. Spoon some melted white chocolate in the center to seal the sticks together. Then, drizzle more of the white chocolate around the sticks in a circular pattern to create the web. Place 2 raisins in the center and cover with melted dark chocolate to form the spider for your web. Freeze until chocolate hardens.
Veggie Skeleton This snack idea is the perfect way to get your kids excited about eating their veggies — no bones about it! Let them help arrange the skeleton: When kids are involved in the cooking process they’re more likely to give foods a try when it comes time to eat. You’ll need: Veggie dip, Celery sticks, Baby carrots, Mushrooms, sliced, Cucumbers, cut into rounds, Pea pods, A few lettuce leaves, Pimiento olives, Red bell pepper Directions: Scoop veggie dip into a small bowl and place at the top of a long platter. Begin to build the skeleton by arranging veggies: a celery stick for the neck, baby carrots for the arms, mushrooms for the hands, cucumbers for the spine, red pepper slices as the ribs, mushrooms for the hips, celery for the legs, and pea pods for the feet. Give your skeleton hair with lettuce leaves, eyes with olives, and a mouth with a sliver of red pepper.