Natural Halloween treats; healthy snacks benefit little trick-or-treaters

Better Nutrition (1989-90), Oct, 1989

Natural Halloween Treats

Healthy snacks benefit little trick-or-treaters

Trick or treat! Trick or treat! Give me something good to eat!

On Halloween night, this familiar refrain is heard at almost every doorstep. For trick-or-treaters, "something good to eat" usually means chocolates, hard candy, and chewing gum. But "something good to eat" can satisfy a child's sweet tooth and remain nutritious at the same time.

Now that it's Autumn, stores overflow with bags of packaged candy to give to the monsters, witches, ghosts, and goblins that come knocking at the door. Although packaged candy makes Halloween preparation much easier, a few minutes spent in the kitchen can provide healthy, nontraditional Halloween treats.

A trip to the local health food store will provide all the ingredients you need to prepare Halloween treats. If you don't have time to make them yourself, health food stores also offer plenty of natural candies, cookies, gums and snack bars. Place homemade treats in resealable bags to retain freshness and provide easier handling. The recipes below call for fresh fruits and vegetables and no sugar, but the only difference children will notice is a fresh taste that leaves stomachs satisfied, not aching. Trick-or-treaters will be eating a healthy snack, and their parents will be thankful that at least one good thing came out of their child's Halloween bag.

Zingy Citrus Bars

2     large eggs
1/4   cup salt-free butter, softened

1 1/2 cups unsweetened orange

juice

1/2 tsp orange extract

2 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour

1     tsp baking soda
2     tsp baking powder
1/2   tsp cinnamon
1/2   tsp nutmeg
1     cup chopped fresh

cranberries

1 cup chopped walnuts

Topping

3/4   cup flaked coconut
3/4   cup crushed pineapple, well

drained

Beat together eggs, butter, orange juice, and orange extract. Add flour, baking soda and baking powder. Measure in spices and beat well. Stir in chopped cranberries and chopped nuts. Spoon mixture into an oiled and floured 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan. Spread batter evenly in pan. Sprinkle flaked coconut and drained pineapple over batter. Bake at 350 [degrees] for 20 to 25 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool and cut into bars. Serves 8 to 10.

Apple Raisin Bars

1/2   cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2   cup unsweetened apple juice
3     eggs
1/4   cup salt-free butter, softened
2     cups whole-wheat flour
1     tsp baking soda
2     tsp baking powder
1     tsp nutmeg

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup raisins

Cinnamon

In a mixing bowl beat together applesauce, apple juice, eggs and butter until well blended. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spices. Beat thoroughly. Stir in raisins. Spoon batter into an oiled and floured 8-inch square baking pan and sprinkle with additional cinnamon. Bake at 350 [degrees] for 25 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean, Cool. Serves 6.