10 healthy Halloween ideas

Pumpkins are far from the only vegetable you can carve – and some are much easier to manage. Our tasty roast peppers are carved into scary shapes before being filled with a vegetarian grain mix. Alternatively, you could fill with a gloopy red tomato risotto or slithery spaghetti Bolognese and watch the contents seep out for a truly terrifying serving suggestion. But watch out – it's not for the faint-hearted!

Try our healthy Halloween stuffed peppers recipe or be inspired by our guide to 9 things you can carve for Halloween that aren’t pumpkins.

2. Healthy Halloween nachos

Try a chilling take on chips 'n' dips with these fun bat-shaped tortilla crisps, guaranteed to add some goodness to any Halloween party buffet spread. Wholewheat tortillas add fibre and crunch, while the sweetcorn salsa, guacamole and carrot dippers provide three of your five-a-day.

Try our healthy Halloween nachos recipe.

3. Healthy Halloween pizzas

Kids will love decorating these individual pizzas with olive 'spiders' or another terrifying topping of their choosing – provide some pre-prepared vegetables and let them create their own eerie designs. We've worked wholemeal flour into the dough for extra nutrients and kept the salt levels low.

Try our healthy Halloween pizza recipe.

4. Healthy pumpkin soup

Make a warming, nourishing pumpkin soup topped with crunchy homemade granola made with coriander seeds, chilli flakes, tamari and maple syrup. Better still, it's vegan, plus low in fat and calories.

Discover more healthy soups.

5. Pumpkin pancakes

Make seasonal pumpkin or butternut squash the star of the show with this simple pancake recipe. Serve with your favourite yogurt and fresh fruit for a fiendishly good Halloween breakfast or brunch.

Try our healthy pumpkin pancakes recipe.

6. Creamy tomato soup

It just takes a bit of imagination to transform this classic dish into a scream-worthy soup. Add a freaky finishing flourish by using crème fraîche to create a spider’s web pattern, or garnish with some mini mozzarella balls decorated with cherry tomatoes and basil to create creepy ‘eyeballs’.

Take more decorative inspiration from our 'eyeball' pasta recipe.

7. Pumpkin hummus

A hollowed-out pumpkin makes the perfect vessel for a Halloween party dip. Carve out a pumpkin and use the flesh to create a creamy hummus, then scoop back into the skin for a spooky serving suggestion. Serve with red or yellow peppers or wholegrain toasted pittas for a healthy snack.

Try our pumpkin hummus recipe.

8. Vegan squash stew

This hearty plant-based stew will warm you from the inside out this spooky season. With butternut squash, chickpeas, mushrooms and a creamy swede and potato mash, you'll pack in plenty of veg.

Keep yourself nourished with our vegan stew recipes.

9. Freaky fruit platter

Kids will have great fun assembling this easy Halloween fruit platter, complete with lychee eyeballs, grape snakes, apple fangs, mummy bananas and tangerine pumpkins. It makes a healthy change from the high-sugar sweets kids typically enjoy this time of year.

Find more Halloween recipes to make with kids.

10. Witches' brew (pea & bacon chowder)

It takes just seven ingredients to make this ghoulishly green soup which is ideal as a dinner party starter, or a light yet warming lunch. Add crisp grilled bacon as a delicious garnish to contrast with the vibrant broth. Hubble bubble!

Enjoyed this? Now try...

Our favourite healthy pumpkin & squash recipes
Everything you need for your best ever Halloween
How to throw a last-minute Halloween party
10 new ways with pumpkin