It's a big week for the pumpkin. With National Pumpkin Day on October and 26 and Halloween not far behind, fans of the gourd are stocking up on their favorite pumpkin-flavored treats[1] .


The problem is, many of those treats are high in sugar and low in actual pumpkin, which boasts benefits like fiber, antioxidants and potassium[2] .


Instead of celebrating Halloween with nutritionally-scary treats, add some festive cheer to the foods you already know are good for you. These morning meals are nutritious, tasty and satisfying -- and will definitely get you in the Halloween spirit!


Apple Bites

Made from apples and almonds, these monstrous mouths pack fiber and healthy fats. Try them atop a bed of yogurt for some extra calcium and protein, like in this recipe.

[3] [4]


Ghost Bananas

Bananas are loaded with potassium and rich in fiber and vitamin B6. Give them a spooky makeover with heart-healthy dark chocolate chips.

[5] [6]


Tangerine Pumpkins

For an extra serving of fruit, pair your ghost with a citrusy "pumpkin" topped with a celery stem. You'll get fiber, antioxidants and of course vitamin C from that tangerine or mandarin orange.

[7]


Egg Eyes

It doesn't get much healthier than eggs for breakfast, with their protein, choline and carotenoids. Sunny-side up fans can get creative with the help of a little ketchup or hot sauce. Bonus points for attention to detail if you top that yolk off with a black olive and green pea like in this recipe.

[8] [9]


Fruit Salad Jack-O'-Lantern

Hollow out an orange, carve it a sinister face and then fill it to the brim with a mix of your favorite fruit for a wide range of vitamins and some filling fiber.


Candy Corn Smoothie Or Parfait

Give your typical calcium- and protein-rich yogurt or smoothie a festive makeover with some candy corn-inspired add-ins. Try pureed pumpkin and cocoa powder, or banana, papaya and pineapple like in this recipe.

[10] [11]


Mummy Toast

Top some 100 percent whole grain toast with a few small slices of your favorite cheese (protein and calcium!), then finish your creature from the crypt with halved black olives for eyes, like in this recipe.

[12] [13]






Post[14] by Little Food Junction[15] .



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  • Face Paint


    Sure, that zombie costume wouldn’t be the same without it, but face paint can cause allergic reactions and irritation. The FDA recommends <a href="http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm143055.htm">testing a small amount on a patch of skin</a> somewhere less obvious, like your arm or stomach, a few days before going all out. <br><br> Compare ingredients in your makeup of choice with the FDA's <a href="http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ColorAdditives/ColorAdditiveInventories/ucm115641.htm">list of approved color additives</a> to be extra cautious, and don't forget to wash it all off before you go to bed.




  • Decorative Contacts


    In 2011, with Halloween approaching, Lady Gaga’s "Bad Romance" music video sparked a wide-eyed cosmetic contact lens trend that worried some experts. Since most decorative or colored contacts are purchased without a prescription, the lenses aren't tailored to fit the individual eye. This can result in tears and infections, according to CBS News, or <a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/07/07/bad-romance-lady-gaga-fans-rush-to-buy-dangerous-contact-lenses/">even blindness</a>, according to Time.com. <br><br> "<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500172_162-6992925.html">It's more than a piece of costume jewelry. This is a medical device.</a> One size does not fit all,” Dr. Thomas Steinemann, an ophthalmologist with MetroHealth Medical Center and the American Academy of Opthalmology told CBS News. <br><br> A small 2012 study that aimed to evaluate why cosmetic lenses might lead to infection found that some users were even <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22378117">sharing their lenses with friends or family members</a>.




  • Black Licorice


    Also around Halloween 2011, the FDA warned against overdoing it on one treat in particular: black licorice. A compound in the candy, derived from the licorice root, can cause potassium levels to fall, which could lead to <a href="http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm277152.htm">abnormal heart rhythms or even heart failure</a> in some adults. <br><br> Adults over 40 are at greatest risk, and you'd have to eat quite a bit of the sweet stuff (two ounces of licorice a day for at least two weeks!) to do real damage, but it's worth cutting back if black licorice is your sweet treat of choice.




  • Bobbing For Apples


    Maybe you've never played, or maybe it's a staple at your Halloween festivities, but bobbing for apples isn't all fun and games. In fact, it's more like an <a href="http://blisstree.com/live/halloween-horror-bobbing-for-apples-is-a-recipe-for-disease-177/">open invitation to germs</a>, in the middle of cold season, no less. <br><br> Concern over apple bobbers spreading the sniffles led at least one UK fall fête to <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1325130/Apple-bobbing-banned-health-chiefs-children-told-use-CHOPSTICKS-instead.html">ban the bob all together</a>, according to the Daily Mail, and instead asked children to try to fish apples out of water using chopsticks.




  • Drinking Too Much


    Throwing back a few too many is a health risk you're likely to encounter at a number of this season's celebrations (lookin' at you, New Year's Eve). The Dietary Guidelines for Americans define <a href="http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/DietaryGuidelines/2010/PolicyDoc/Chapter3.pdf">moderate alcohol consumption</a> as up to one drink per day for women and up to two a day for men -- and no, you can’t save them up all week to splurge on Halloween weekend. <br><br> Doing so can leave you with bigger problems than a hangover, although <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/how-a-hangover-works_n_1861702.html">at least 75 percent of you can attest</a> that that's not so pleasant in and of itself. <br><br> <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm">Overdoing it on the booze</a> can lead to high blood pressure, liver damage, memory problems and more, according to the CDC.




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