Wholesome Halloween
Although Halloween is traditionally a time of tricks and treats, there is no reason we cannot celebrate in a whimsical and wholesome way instead!
Green & Purple Witches’ Cauldrons
Halloween can conjure many images for many people; carving pumpkins, dressing up, creating endless decorations with family and trick or treating with friends around the neighbourhood are a few of our favourites. These images bring up feelings of community and togetherness, the whole neighbourhood working together to create a fun evening for the children. It is this wholesome concept of Halloween we want to share with children! With this idea in mind we have created a range of fun, sweet and healthy Halloween treats to make with your children at home or in your early learning centre. Our Witches’ Cauldrons, Green Goblin Smoothies and Pumpkins & Ghosts, are fun, delicious and easy to create. Making them together will get everyone in a playful spirit of fellowship this Halloween and bring lots of joy and fun!!
Serving Ideas
All these recipes can be created separately for a light snack, or put together for a celebratory afternoon tea, or evening treat. Halloween is a perfect time to give children free reign on their imagination, and allow them to create in a variety of ways including costumes, decorations and of course cooking! Children will love being involved in the process and will be able to use their creativity and imagination to decorate their snacks in a spooky, or sweet, way. By using different colours of fruit and vege you could create a whole rainbow of Witches’ Cauldrons or Smoothies. Children could also come up with some great ideas for other interesting, creative, colourful and nutritious Halloween inspired treats, so let your imaginations run wild!
Witches’ Cauldron Chia Pudding
Serves 10 preschoolers
Green Ingredients:
1/2 banana, peeled
1 Avocado, flesh scooped
3/4 Cup plain yoghurt
4 Tbsp chia seeds
Green grapes cut in half* (seeds removed), to garnish
Purple Ingredients:
1 Cup frozen boysenberries, defrosted (or use fresh)
1/2 Can (400ml) coconut milk
4 Tbsp chia seeds
Red grapes cut in half* (seeds removed), to garnish
*For children under 3, quarter or dice grapes
Method:
Decide which colour you’ll make first, Green or Purple. Place all the ingredients, except for the chia seeds and the grapes, in the blender and blend until smooth.
Spoon the mixture into a medium sized mixing bowl and add chia seeds.
Mix chia seeds through and allow to sit for at least 20 minutes to overnight.Repeat with the next colour.
Meanwhile, create your cauldron (see below).
Spoon your purple and green chia puddings into separate cauldrons and garnish with the halved grapes.
Making the Cauldrons:
1. Find a set of medium sized bowls to serve your chia pudding.
2. Trace the bowl shape onto black paper, cut out and cut in half.
3. Add legs with glue stick.
4. Use your cauldron cut-outs to serve your Witches’ Cauldron Chia Puddings.
Green Goblin Smoothies
Serves 10 preschoolers
Ingredients:
2 bananas, peeled and broken into pieces
2 ripe pears, peeled and cut into chunks
2 handfuls of baby spinach
1/2 Cup milk
Method:
Allow children to create their Goblin Faces using a whiteboard marker on any type of reusable cup.
Place all the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.
Pour your green smoothie into your decorated cups and enjoy!
Pumpkins & Ghosts
Ingredients:
Mandarins
Celery stalks, cut into small sticks
Bananas
Handful of Raisins
Ice block sticks
Method:
Ghosts:
Peel and half the bananas.
Allow children to use the ice block sticks to dig eye sockets into the pointy end of the banana.
Place raisins into the sockets to create eyes.
Push the ice block sticks into the bottom of the banana.
Pumpkins:
Have children peel the mandarins but keep the segments together.
Help them to cut the celery stalks into small sticks.
Place one stick of celery into the top of each mandarin to make a “pumpkin”.
