If you make your own, you can choose healthy nuts, like raw almonds, cashews, or pistachios. Avoid nuts that have been roasted in oil to avoid hydrogenated fats. When looking for add-ins, you don’t have to get rid of all the fun stuff. You can still put chocolate in your mix, but go for dark chocolate, like dark chocolate M&Ms, if your child will eat it. Other options include whole wheat pretzels or crackers, raisins, whole grain cereals, or air-popped popcorn. Here are several snack mix ideas to keep things fresh and fun.

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

If you are like most people, you probably have a deep devotion to Nutella. If you aren’t familiar with this delicious chocolate hazelnut spread, it was created in Italy during World War II and was imported into America in 1983.

In recent years, it has taken the culinary world by storm, with entire cookbooks devoted to incorporating Nutella into everything edible. Sadly, it is not very healthy because the first ingredient is sugar and the second ingredient is modified vegetable oils, which is code for highly processed. Good news! You can make a healthier version by using whole food ingredients. This recipe cuts back on the sugar content by using bittersweet chocolate and honey, and light coconut milk takes the place of regular milk, cutting back on the fat. Your kids can dip fruit in it or put it on celery; they can also spread it on whole wheat crackers or toast.

Peanut Butter and Honey Oat Bars

Granola bars are the go-to snack for many families on the go. They’re so easy to throw in a lunchbox or backpack. Unfortunately, many pre-packaged granola bars are just glorified candy bars. Most have a very high sugar content in the form of high fructose corn syrup and are lacking in protein and important nutrients.

There are decent store-bought granola bars out there, but it’s so easy to make your own, and you can even let your kids help. This recipe uses ingredients like honey, coconut oil, and oats to create a healthy, delicious, and filling granola bar.

These healthy snack ideas will win over even the pickiest eater, and you don’t even have to tell your kids that they’re healthy. Happy snacking!

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Don’t worry – they don’t involve flax seed or wheat germ, but they are healthier substitutes for many Halloween candy staples.

All you do is bind the kiss and the wafer with a little frosting (or cream cheese if you like) and do the same with the wafer and the chocolate chip! You can even substitute caramel, peanut butter, or butterscotch chips if you want!

If you’re looking for a snack that’s full of flavor, but lower on calories, try some spiced pumpkin-raisin cookies! You can even substitute stevia for the raw sugar. If you’re not a raisin fan, try these apple cup crisps for a festive, one bite snack! Remember that substitute applesauce for butter trick we mentioned before? Well, you can do it here, too!

As pictured at the beginning of the article, you can make witch’s broomsticks (or “Sorcerer’s Apprentice brooms) very easily! All you need is cheese sticks, pretzel sticks, and some chives. You cut the cheese sticks into thirds and then slice “straws” into the ends of the cheese. Then, you stick that on the tip of the pretzel and tie a fresh chive around the top of the cheese for more authenticity!

You’ll easily tackle any Halloween sweet tooth with these snacks and bites. For spookier options, check out these other great and simple recipes for even more creative alternatives to ordinary Halloween candy.