Skip the Candy for These Healthy Halloween Snacks

It’s that time of year again. The crisp leaves cover the ground, the kids are back in school, you pulled your cozy sweaters from the closet, and we’re all gearing up for the holidays. It’s the perfect time to snuggle up on the couch to watch a family movie.

Unfortunately, this season also carries with it many pitfalls (filled with butter, fat, sweets & sugar) that can undo your weight loss progress.

Halloween can be especially dangerous. That’s why it’s time to talk about healthy Halloween treats.

The obvious question is, “What the heck do I do with all this EXTRA CANDY in my pantry?!”

No one wants to waste it and just throw it away, but it doesn’t make sense to keep it there, begging to get eaten. Think about all the mini candy bars, candy apples, candy corn, lollipops, single-wrapped candies, and everything else.

You might think it’s the kids who can’t resist Halloween junk food, but, to be honest, it was ME who needed to be tamed when it came to all that extra candy laying around the house.

My kids could keep their candy in a gallon bucket for months and not touch it. Me, on the other hand, I can't keep my hands off it. If it is there, I eat it.

My sweet tooth is insane. But, I've figured out a few "life hacks" (in the form of healthy fall recipes) that help me and I hope they help you too.

There are a few ways to tackle the Halloween candy problem… so don’t worry!

Use this handy guide to help kick this ooey-goey issue to the curb before it gets the best of you.


Give It Away

Yes, that’s right… There are a million different places to hand off your unwanted Halloween candy. You can send it with the kids to school, drop it off at your local church, food bank, or shelter, or give it to friends and family who have kids (or a sweet tooth!)

You can also freeze the candy to use later in baking. Just make sure you give those baked goods away, of course!


Throw It Away

It might sound crazy but there is nothing stopping you from throwing away all the junk food that won’t add any value to your diet or your life.

If you don’t want to hand all the sugar off to someone else, feel free to throw it in the trash! I promise no one will find out!!

I look at it like this, somebody eats it, I eat it, or the garbage can eats it. I'm OK with throwing away free candy that doesn't align with my goals.


Make Delicious & Healthy Alternatives

And now for my favorite choice, make some healthy Halloween treats INSTEAD of indulging in pre-packaged junk! Your health and waistline will thank you for it!

One of my favorite fall treats is LEAN Roasted Pumpkin Seeds. It’s just the right amount of sweet, salty, and protein-packed goodness that you need to keep your diet on track. As far as healthy Halloween snacks go, this one is a national favorite.

Now, for our LadyBoss® healthy fall recipes…


LEAN Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

PREP TIME
5 mins
COOK TIME
20 mins
INGREDIENTS

Take 3-4 c of raw pumpkin seeds
¼ c of organic coconut oil melted
3 tbsp cinnamon
2 tbsp salt
1 serving Vanilla Cake LadyBoss® LEAN

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
In a large bowl, toss pumpkin seeds with coconut oil, salt, and cinnamon
Place on a cookie sheet in a single layer.
Roast for 20 minutes, tossing midway through.
Allow seeds to cool.
In a large bowl, toss seeds with Vanilla Cake LadyBoss® LEAN

NOTES

Add extra salt and cinnamon to taste.


Healthy Dark Chocolate Truffles

PREP TIME
10 mins
COOK TIME
2 hrs

INGREDIENTS

2 heaping tbsp dark chocolate baking cocoa powder
2 heaping tbsp natural peanut butter
1 c rolled oats
1-2 tbsp coconut oil
½ c dried cranberries
¼ c mini chocolate chips
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper optional
1-2 tbsp almond milk
Extra cocoa powder

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
Form balls with 2-3 tbsp of dough.
Chill for at least two hours.


Monster Bark

PREP TIME
10 mins
COOK TIME
2 hrs

INGREDIENTS

1 c dark chocolate chips
1 tsp coconut oil
¼ c chopped almonds divided
2 tbsp dried cranberries divided
2 tbsp dried blueberries divided
½ serving Brownie Batter LadyBoss® LEAN

INSTRUCTIONS

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper
In a microwave safe bowl, melt dark chocolate and coconut oil in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring each time.
Mix in Brownie Batter LadyBoss LEAN, half of the chopped almonds, 1 tbsp dried blueberries, and one tbsp dried cranberries.
Spread an even, thin layer of chocolate mixture onto parchment paper.
Sprinkle remaining chopped almonds, blueberries, and cranberries on top.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or until chocolate is hard).
Break into pieces.


Chocolate Popcorn

PREP TIME
2 mins
COOK TIME
3 mins

INGREDIENTS

1 serving Vanilla Cake LadyBoss® LEAN
1-2 tbsp of cocoa powder
4 c of warm popcorn

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix together Vanilla Cake LadyBoss® LEAN and cocoa powder.
Toss warm popcorn in powder mixture

NOTES

Add in 1/4 c of dark chocolate chips


Protein PB Cups

PREP TIME
5 mins
COOK TIME
2 hrs 20 mins

INGREDIENTS

4 tbsp crunchy almond butter or peanut butter
¼ c Vanilla Cake LadyBoss® LEAN
4 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
½ c of 90% dark chocolate
5 silicone cupcake cups

INSTRUCTIONS

In a large mixing bowl, combine peanut butter, Vanilla Cake LadyBoss LEAN, and unsweetened almond milk.
In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate in 30-second intervals, stirring after each.
Pour chocolate into a silicone cup, carefully, about 1-2 teaspoons per cup.
Brush chocolate up the sides of the cup to create the outer shell.
Chill for at least 20 minutes (or until chocolate is set.
Spoon ½-1 tablespoon of peanut butter mixture into each cup.
Evenly divide the remainder of the dark chocolate over the top of the peanut butter mixture.
Chill for at least 2 hours, or until chocolate is set.


Healthy Oreo Cookies

PREP TIME
15 mins
COOK TIME
5 mins

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp calorie-free maple syrup
⅓ c unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tbsp Vanilla Cake LadyBoss® LEAN
1 tbsp of fat-free cream cheese
An additional 1/8 to 1/4 c of Vanilla Cake LadyBoss® LEAN

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 395 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, combine maple syrup, cocoa powder, and 2 tbsp. Vanilla Cake LadyBoss LEAN until a stiff dough forms. (Add additional maple syrup if too dry or cocoa powder if too sticky)
Form 6-10 balls with dough, then flatten with your hand.
Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 5 minutes.
Allow cookies to cool completely.
In a separate mixing bowl, combine fat-free cream cheese and the rest of your Vanilla Cake LadyBoss LEAN to make a paste (for the filling).
Spread filling onto half of the cookies, and top with the other half.

NOTES

The cookie dough should be similar to gingerbread cookie dough, or much like molding clay. You should be able to form shapes with your hands without the cookie dough sticking to it. The filling should have a pasty texture, much like the inside of an oreo. However, you can add more Vanilla Cake LEAN or cream cheese to get your desired texture.

So, now you have no excuses to skimp on healthy Halloween snacks this fall!

Use this arsenal of delicious, protein-packed recipes so you and your family can enjoy eating healthy Halloween treats that not only taste good, but that also will make you look and feel great!

If you know someone else who could use these recipes this holiday season, share the love and send them this blog post! Happy Halloween!