Healthy Halloween Snacks: POPCORN HANDS & More

Healthy Halloween Snacks

Unfortunately, the upcoming sugar-filled holiday usually results in our kids loading up on lots of candy that we instinctively know isn’t good for them. But who wants to be a Grinch and spoil their fun?

Thankfully, encouraging kids to eat healthy during Halloween isn’t that difficult when the treats have a cute little twist like these wholesome options.

Popcorn hands

These popcorn hands are fun and easy Halloween treats for kids.

Years ago, my daughter and I used to volunteer at a local retirement home and we decided to make these popcorn hands for the residents at the center.

We knew they would enjoy them but completely underestimated their overwhelming response. Though I’m not sure how many actually ate the popcorn, because we saw them as decorations in rooms for many weeks following the holiday.

Back then, we used candy corn for the fingertips but, now that I try to avoid refined sugar as much as possible, I opted for using baby carrots cut in half, and they work perfectly.

I made a short 3-minute video showing how easy it is to create these cute Halloween snacks, so definitely check it out.

Ingredients you will need

• Popcorn- You can cook your popcorn on the stovetop or in a microwave. I have some great healthy popcorn cooking tips and toppings in this article.
• Carrots- I like to use baby carrots for the fingernails, but you could use something else or leave them out completely.
• Gloves- You are going to need latex-free disposable gloves for this project. I purchased clear disposable gloves from Amazon, and they are very inexpensive.
• Ribbon- Fall-colored ribbons such as pumpkin orange, black, or green are great for tying the glove closed to hold the popcorn inside.

How to make popcorn hands

STEP #1: First, you need to pop some fresh popcorn, and I have a great article on three different oil-free cooking methods for popcorn. The article, Healthy Popcorn Toppings, also includes 20 different popcorn topping variations that are amazingly delicious.

STEP #2: Next, slice baby carrots in half to use as the fingertips. Though we used to use candy corn for this, carrots are a much healthier option for kids and adults alike.

The carrots actually do a better job of filling up the finger space than those tiny candy corn pieces as well.

STEP #3: Now, it’s time to add the popcorn. Start adding the popped corn a handful at a time. You’ll likely need to mash it into smaller pieces to fit down into the finger holes. You will be able to see how I do this by watching the video demonstration. It’s really not difficult at all.

STEP #4: Lastly, twist the glove to close off the opening, and tie a fall-colored ribbon around the opening to secure it. If you would like, add a spider ring (or another Halloween-themed ring) to one of the fingers.

More easy Halloween food ideas

I’ll just be upfront here and tell you that I am not a crafty person at all. These next Halloween party snack ideas are some that I found on the Forks Over Knives page a couple of years ago and thought they were adorable.

Jack-o-Lanterns are simply tangerines or clementines with faces drawn on them with a magic marker. I used small broccoli stalks for the stems and cut a small hole in the citrus tops to insert.

Banana Ghosts are pretty self-explanatory. Choose some fresh pretty (not brown) bananas, peel, and slice in half. Use non-dairy chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth. I like to use the Enjoy Life brand which is also gluten-free and non-GMO.

Halloween Cups are a treat we give out most years. We purchase them at a local dollar discount store and load them up with goodies like boxes of raisins, small bottles of water, Halloween pencils, and other prizes.

Homemade Tootsie Rolls are another great Halloween party idea. While candy-making can seem like an intimidating task, making your own homemade tootsie rolls is actually surprisingly easy. This is a no-bake, 6-ingredient treat that anyone can create.

Date Caramel Apples are another great vegan Halloween treat to give the kids!

Tips for making Halloween snacks

• Gloves- Be sure to only purchase latex-free gloves, because regular latex gloves contain a powder that is not appropriate for inserting popcorn. It’s not edible.
• Decoration- I purchased all the decorative items from Dollar General where everything was only $1 per package. This included packages of spider rings, ribbons, pencils, decorations, etc.
• Bananas- When slicing the bananas for the ghosts, make sure the cut end is flat, so they will stand up correctly. Bananas turn brown quickly once peeled, so serve the ghosts immediately.
• Jack-o-lanterns- Either celery sticks or broccoli stalks work great as stems for the jack-o-lanterns.