Healthy Halloween: Swapping candies for fruits and other healthy recipes

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Halloween is nearly here! While many will be celebrating with tons of sweets and candies, if you're looking for some healthy alternatives you're in the right place. 

13 ON YOUR SIDE's Kirk Montgomery sat down with Grace DeRocha from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to share some sweet and spooky ideas.

Orange Jack O’Lantern Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

• Oranges
• A variety of fruit
• A variety of salad vegetables of choice

For Orange vinaigrette:

• 1 orange, zested
• 2 small oranges, juiced or 1 large orange
• 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 1 clove garlic, peeled
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. black pepper
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions:

1. Cut off top of orange revealing a small whole. Remove orange segments and membranes but save them to be used later in fruit salad, greens salad or part of the citrus vinaigrette.
2. Cut jack o’lantern face out of the orange. Use orange as vessel to serve fruit or greens salad
3. Chop fruit for fruit salad. Mix together and place in orange.
4. Chop greens and vegetables for greens salad.

For vinaigrette:

1. Combine all ingredients in the blender except olive oil
2. With blender still running, slowly pour in olive oil until fully combined.
3. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 hours to allow flavors to meld.
4. Shake gently before serving on salad.

Orange and Walnut Stuffed Cockroaches

Ingredients

• 30 dried dates
• 4 oz. cream cheese
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• 1 Tbsp. orange juice
• 1 Tbsp. honey
• Zest of one orange

Instructions

1. Split the dates down the middle leaving one side attached.
2. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese until creamy. Add in the honey and orange juice and beat again another minute. Stir in the zest and ¼ cup of the chopped walnuts.
3. Place filling in a Ziploc bag with the corner cut off or piping bag. Fill the center of each date with the cream cheese filling. Top with additional toasted walnuts and extra zest if desired.
4. Store in the refrigerator.

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More recipes featured on My West Michigan:

• On the Menu: Lentils, chickpeas and other beans
• Healthy take on a tailgating favorite: Skinny Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Feel Good Foodie makes No-Bake Pumpkin Balls

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