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
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.
- 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:
Source:
Adapted from Alice Henneman, MS, RDN. Healthy Halloween Party Foods with Popcorn. Retrieved from https://food.unl.edu/.
Halloween Party Popcorn Mix
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.
- 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:
Source:
Adapted from Alice Henneman, MS, RDN. Healthy Halloween Party Foods with Popcorn. Retrieved from https://food.unl.edu/.
Source:
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Choose MyPlate. Accessed at: https://www.choosemyplate.gov/ Accessed on: 10/28/2019.
- The Popcorn Board. 2019. Nutritional Information. Accessed at: https://www.popcorn.org/Nutrition/Popcorn-Nutritional-Information Accessed on: 10/28/2019.
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