Halloween kicks off the Holiday Season here in the US and it's always so fun to see the kiddos running around dressed up like their favorite characters or what they want to be when they grow up. I love it when I open the door to trick-or-treaters dressed up like a doctor or lawyer--my what upstanding citizens they will become! At least three or four Elsas and Batmans will show too. And the occasional ghost, ghoul, or gory-looking mask. Whatever they choose, it's always a fun time.
Even though Halloween-time is such a fun season, it's also an unhealthy one. Halloween has become synonymous with candy. While a few pieces don't hurt, candy tends to be everywhere for the few weeks leading up and it just overloads us--and our kids--with processed added sugar.
Here are some fun Halloween fruit ideas that you can make with your kids. I found all of these on Pinterest and created a Healthy Halloween Pinterest Board for you to find more fun healthy Halloween ideas.
Simple Fun Halloween Fruit Ideas
You'll need:
- A black sharpie (you can draw on outside peels with a sharpie, they don't bleed through on the bananas or clementines, just make sure the kids know not to eat or lick that part)
- For the Ghost Bananas: bananas
- For the Orange Jack-O-Lanterns: mandarines or clementines such at Cuties (I bought a big bag at Costco for about $5)
- For the Monster Eyeballs: green grapes, mini marshmallows*, mini chocolate chips*
The Ghost Bananas and Orange Jack-O-Lanterns are really simple, just use the sharpie to draw faces on them like the photo above. Make ovals for the ghost's eyes and mouth. For the jack-o-lanterns, mix it up with circles, ovals and triangles for the eyes and noses, and smiles with or without teeth for the mouths. Here are some simple jack-o-lantern faces if you need some inspiration.
The bananas and oranges can stay out on the counter for the weeks leading up to Halloween. The Monster Eyeballs are a fun addition but since the grapes are cut open they should be eaten right away. To make the Monster Eyeballs, cut large green grapes in half. Also cut the mini marshmallows in half and use the sticky cut side of the marshmallow to stick to the grape. Press the point of the mini chocolate chip into the marshmallow.
* Marshmallows and chocolate chips are obviously not health foods and can be full of artificial ingredients. Get them at the natural foods store if you can.
I made this bowl with my nephews and the 3.5-year-old loved it, the 4.5-year-old told my sister, "Mommy, I don't ever want my banana to be a ghost again." Too cute. I guess it depends on the kiddo, but the 3.5yo loved it and can't wait to take a piece of fruit each day from the Halloween Fruit Bowl. We called the ghost bananas "boo-nanas" and he thinks it's hilarious.
Happy Halloween!
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