You see it there in the grocery store: Reese’s, Hershey, Mars and you know that it’s that time again. This is a frightening, troubling week for people watching their blood sugar: Halloween. Candy is all around us. It’s a sugary, delicious temptation.
Once upon a time, Halloween had very little to do with candy. Anyone who has ever seen Meet Me in St. Louis knows that Halloween in America was a more pagan celebration. It was a night when kids would run wild with pranks and disguises. When candy makers were looking to increase their revenue, they didn’t even consider Halloween. Instead, they invented a holiday, still celebrated in a few places in the U.S., Candy Day.
Trick-or-treating didn’t start in America until the 1930s, even then, there was a pause for WWII when there was a chocolate shortage. During that time, M&Ms were invented so people could enjoy chocolate in very small quantities. When trick-or-treating returned, children received very different treats from what kids get now. From small cakes and coins, to nuts and fruits, all sorts of goodies were given to children who knocked on strangers’ doors.
It wasn’t until the ‘70s that wrapped candy became the norm. In part, the rise of the prevalence of wrapped candy was out of the unfounded fear of strangers poisoning sweets. The police have never substantiated a case of randomly poisoned candy. The only children harmed with tainted candy have been specifically targeted by people who knew them. Nowadays, kids receive mass-produced and factory sealed candy by the bucket. And, while we might be tempted to dig into our children/grandchildren’s candy bag, there are better options!
We scoured the web looking for delicious recipes for you to enjoy this week and feel that there is an important note we should share. Though doctors have been talking about the possible dangers of activated charcoal as an ingredient for years, people still add it to recipes for the beautiful shade of black it gives food. Many recipes we came across included activated charcoal. Activated charcoal pulls poisons out of the body; that’s why it’s used in emergency rooms. It also absorbs nutrients, vitamins and prescription medications. While this may not affect you, it might harm someone with whom you share food. None of the recipes below have charcoal.
We’re going for a mix of sweet and savory because sometimes you want treats but occasionally you just want to get in on the festive fun!
Deviled eggs are a delicious party staple since time immemorial; even the Romans loved them! These deviled eggs make our list not simply for their apt name but for their gorgeous pumpkin-orange shade and perfect presentation. These have around 65 calories each with around .3 carbs! Get the recipe here.
Made with zucchini noodles, these stuffed peppers are delicious and take 10 minutes to prepare. That means you won’t miss out on any holiday fun getting your meal ready! There is the added bonus that everyone at your table can enjoy them. Not only are they low carb, at only 26 grams for a whole pepper, they are dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, sugar-free and vegan. These tasty and fun peppers are sure to be a hit! Read the recipe here.
If you really want to impress, this pizza will get the job done! With less than nine grams of carbs for a quarter of the pie, this showstopper won’t put a damper on your night. The instructions say it takes 15 minutes to prepare prior to cooking but doesn’t amount for making the low-carb crust. The good news is that the pie crust dough can be made ahead. While homemade pizza might not be in your normal meal rotation, the holiday might be a good reason to make an eye-catching pie. Get the recipe here.
The sweet side of Halloween cannot be overlooked. Resisting diving into the candy you intended to give to trick-or-treaters can feel like a herculean task, but you can make it easier on yourself!
For many Americans, peanut butter cups are hard to resist. But one snack sized Reese’s has 11 grams of sugar. These may not look the same but, with only three carbs, does the look matter? This copycat recipe is a peanut butter fudge then topped with a sugar-free chocolate and peanut butter mix. If that sounds like a nutty dream come true to you, you must check out the recipe here.
If the good old days, before the ‘70s, sound good to you, you may want your treats to come in the form of cookies. Candy corn is a galvanizing thing. People are rarely indifferent when the sweet is mentioned. Folks love it or find it revolting. But these “sugar” cookies will delight anyone. With only one net gram of carbs, they will be a hit. Get the recipe here.
Many people think Halloween is all about the candy and that fall is pumpkin season. If you are in this group, we have you covered. A sugar-free pumpkin ganache is coated in dark chocolate for this truffle. The recipe yields 45 chocolates so you’ll have enough to share! Each truffle has 37 calories and one gram of carbs. It’s the perfect candy for any autumn enthusiast. Check out the recipe here.
No matter what recipe you pick, we hope you have a wonderful Halloween! Let us know how you’ll be celebrating by emailing us here: socialmedia@neulivenhealth.com.
