Healthy Halloween Party Foods with Popcorn

Candy and sweet treats are a big part of Halloween. Since it only happens once a year, enjoy your candy and sweet treats, but in moderation. They have a lot of calories, saturated fat, and added sugars. Make a switch. Add popcorn with candy to increase nutrients for a healthier treat.

Popcorn is naturally low in fat and calories, plus it is high in fiber. Be careful when adding butter, oil, and/or salt. Choose air-popped popcorn without added fat (31 calories per cup), oil-popped (35 calories per cup) or lightly buttered popcorn (about 80 calories per cup). When buying pre-packaged popcorn, use the nutrition facts label to compare calories, fat, saturated fat, and sodium amounts to choose healthier options. Did you know popcorn counts as a whole grain? MyPlate recommends getting at least half of your grains from whole grains. One serving of whole grains equals three cups of popcorn.

Halloween Bony Fingers

Yield: 5 servings

Ingredients:

15 cups air-popped popcorn, unsalted
25 pieces candy corn
5 poly disposable gloves, clear, one size fits most (powder-free and food safe)

Directions:

Wash hands with soap and water.
Prepare popcorn according to the air popper directions.
Take 1 food safe plastic glove and place 1 piece of candy corn at the end of each finger for fingernails.
Fill each glove with 3 cups of popcorn. Place some popcorn in fingers first and then add the remaining popcorn to glove.
Tie the end of glove with ribbon or yarn.

Notes:

1/2 cup of unpopped kernels equals 16 cups of popped popcorn. Enjoy the leftover popcorn (about 1 cup).
Prepare popcorn in a microwave according to package directions or on top of the stove.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size (1 glove):
Calories 130
Total Fat 1g
Saturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 20mg
Total Carbohydrates 28g
Fiber 3g
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 3g

Source:

Adapted from Alice Henneman, MS, RDN. Healthy Halloween Party Foods with Popcorn. Retrieved from https://food.unl.edu/.

Halloween Party Popcorn Mix

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients:

16 cups air-popped popcorn, unsalted
1/2 cup candy corn
1/2 cup orange, brown, and yellow candy pieces filled with peanut butter

Directions:

Wash hands with soap and water.
Prepare popcorn according to the air popper directions.
Add about 1/4 of the popcorn to a large bowl. Sprinkle about 1/4 of the candy on top of popcorn. Repeat layering of ingredients since mixing causes candy to fall to bottom of bowl.
Serve with a scoop from a large bowl or fill a self-closing plastic bag with 2 cups of mixture for each person to enjoy.

Notes:

1/2 cup of unpopped kernels equals 16 cups of popped popcorn.
Prepare popcorn in a microwave according to package directions or on top of the stove.
Add raisins, other dried fruit, nuts, gummy worms, or other orange and black candies.

Nutrition Information: