Give Your Little Boo a Little Boost
>> Friday, October 14, 2011
Whether hosting your own party or sending your ghosts to school with a bag full of treats, you can make a happy Halloween … healthy! Just substitute sugary treats that slow them down with fruits & veggies that pick them up!
• Fun, not Food Avoid making refreshments the "main event"
• Dipping Bar Offer fruits/veggies & healthy dips.
• Chip Free! Pretzels, low-fat popcorn, graham crackers
• Fruit Art Cookie cutters, fruits & veggies, toothpicks … create
• Don’t forget dried fruits! Add to a cheese platter or mix with nuts for snacking. A dried fruit and nut combination makes a great gift too! Also try assorted dried fruit such as cranberries, raisins, apricots, cherries, blueberries and apples with mixed nuts.
• Save your kids teeth with fun-themed vegetable appetizers! Cut whole carrots in to 1-inch thick chunks, top with a blob of low-fat cream cheese and one half of a pitted black olive to make an “edible eyeball.” Try this same concept with other similarly shaped fruits and vegetables! The more creative you are, the more likely your kids will be willing to try them
• Place 10 apples in a large stockpot and add enough water cover by at least 2 inches. Stir in 1 Tbsp of cinnamon and allspice. Bring to a boil. Boil, uncovered, for 1 hour. Cover pot, reduce heat, and simmer for 2 hours. Strain apple mixture through a fine mesh sieve and discard solids. Drain cider again though a cheesecloth-lined sieve. Refrigerate until cold and enjoy!
• Everyone loves trail mix because it’s full of vitamins and minerals plus … it’s delicious! Try mixing heart-healthy nuts like almonds, walnuts, pistachios and pecans with dried fruit and dark chocolate.
Cinnamon Apple Chips
Makes about 40 chips.
o 2 cups unsweetened apple juice
o 1 cinnamon stick
o 2 Red Delicious Apples
Directions
Preheat oven to 250° F. In a large pot, combine apple juice and cinnamon sticks and bring to a simmer while cutting the apples. Slice off ½ inch from the tops and bottom of the apples. Cut cross wise into 1/8-inch even slices—a mandolin slicer works best. (No need to peel or core the apples—the seeds will come off in the next step.) Drop slices into simmering juice and cook until slices are translucent and slightly golden. With a slotted spoon, remove apples and pat dry. Arrange slices on wire racks, making sure slices do not overlap. Bake 30 to 40 minutes until slightly browned and almost dry to touch. Let chips cool on racks completely. Store in an airtight container. For gifts, arrange slices in clear plastic bags and tie with ribbon.
