Healthy Sweets for Tricks and Treats
Guest Blog Post by Valerie Engelson of Valerie's "Just" Baked Goods, Certified Nutritional Consultant, and Wellness Counselor.
When October hits: the leaves change, the air gets crisper, and spooks and ghouls are in sight. As a parent, your biggest fright isn’t a witch or ghost, but the dreaded traditional “Trick or Treat” Sweet. With these fun recipes now you don’t have to worry about your little princess or prince turning into a little sugar infused monster. Oh and don’t forget to place your order for our Delicious Pumpkin Muffins!
Frightful Banana Fingers
INGREDIENTS:
- Bananas
- Any type of Nut butter (Almond Butter, Peanut Butter, Cashew Butter)
- Dark Chocolate Chips
- Almonds
- Strawberry Jelly
Step 1:
Determine how many fingers you’d like to devour. We will go with 10.
Cut 5 bananas in half (horizontally)
You now have the base of 10 fingers
Step 2:
Take your nut butter and cover the banana but leave a little space around the end
Step 3:
On 5 of the bananas sprinkle the chocolate chips
On the other 5 of the bananas put jelly on parts of the banana (to look like blood)
Step 4:
Freeze overnight
Witch’s Healthy Poison Apple
INGREDIENTS:
Apples (2 apples)
- Sticks
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (6oz or half a bag of chocolate chips)
- Chopped Nuts
Step 1:
Insert sticks into apples until apple is secure
Step 2:
Melt chocolate until smooth
Step 3:
Cover the apple with melted chocolate until covered
Step 4:
Turn the apple while covering with chocolate chips or crushed nuts
Step 5:
Put apple on wax paper, stick side up, until chocolate hardens (About an hour)
Nut Butter Caramel Corn
Serves 20 (serving size: about 3/4 cup)
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
- 1/2 cup unpopped non-gmo popcorn kernels
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 2/3 cup organic honey
- 2 1/2 tablespoons organic butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup creamy organic peanut butter or almond butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (non-gmo)
Step 1:
Preheat oven to 250°.
Step 2:
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Lightly oil.
Step 3:
Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add popcorn; cover and cook 4 minutes, shaking pan frequently. When popping slows, remove pan from heat. Let stand until popping stops. Uncover; add almonds.
Step 4:
Combine sugar, honey, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Add peanut butter/almond butter and vanilla; stir until smooth. Drizzle over popcorn; toss well. Spread mixture out onto prepared pan.
Step 5:
Bake at 250° for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool completely.
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Below Valerie shares 6 ingredients you should be avoiding in your Halloween candy!
Candy is supposed to be sweet and tasty. But so much of it is so loaded with synthetic additives and fake ingredients!
1) High Fructose Corn Syrup – linked to obesity as well as liver and kidney disease.
2) Artificial Sweeteners – This group includes aspartame, sucralose, saccharin and acesulfame K. Research suggests that artificial sweeteners increase sugar cravings and lead to weight gain.
3) Artificial Food Coloring and Dye – Research shows a link between food dyes and cancer and ADHD.
4) Preservatives – BHT, BHA, or TBHQ are among the preservatives you’ll want to avoid.
5) Artificial Flavorings – Fake flavors are usually mixtures made up of hundreds of chemicals.
6) GMOs – GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, have been integrated into many conventional agricultural crops, including corn, soybeans, and several grains.
For more info on Valerie's "Just" Baked Goods check out the links below.
- Instagram: @valeriesjustbakedgoods
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valeriesjustbakedgoods
- Email: valeriesjustbakedgoods@gmail.com
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