Eat Right: Healthy Fall Snacks

October offers everything we love about Fall at New Jammies. The leaves are changing, football games are in full swing, and cozy footie pajamas make their comeback for cool October nights.

There are also bonfires in the backyard, spiced cider warming on the stove, sticky sweet caramel apples, and the aroma of cinnamon and other hearty spices in the air at Fall parties. With Fall also comes one of the nation’s most celebrated dates, Oct. 31. Halloween means fun costumes and trick-or-treating. Plus and lots of candy and sugar.

We all know the challenges all those sweets can bring.

Fall treats don’t have to be all that unhealthy, though, and New Jammies has compiled a few of our favorite healthy October recipes that won’t scare off the kids. And they will keep Mom and Dad happy while celebrating one of New Jammies’ favorite colorful seasons.

Pumpkin Power

Lucky for all of us, there’s no shortage of pumpkin in the Fall, and puree is one of the best ways to enjoy it. A cup of pumpkin puree offers 7 grams of dietary fiber and 10 percent of the daily requirement for potassium, serving as a healthy digestion tool for kids and adults. Packed with a host of vitamins and minerals, especially Vitamin C, the orange squash also builds immunity to common colds and can help prevent heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, and arthritis.

These healthy pumpkin recipes, from health.com’s contributing nutrition editor Cynthia Sass, are quick and easy options to enjoy the benefits of this beloved vegetable for kids of all ages:

Pumpkin Smoothie
In a blender, combine one half cup canned pumpkin with one cup of unsweetened coconut milk, a tablespoon of either coconut butter or almond butter, a teaspoon each of pumpkin pie spice and organic maple syrup, a scoop of pea protein powder, and 3-4 ice cubes. Whip until smooth.

Pumpkin Hummus
In a food processor, combine a half cup of chickpeas with two tablespoons each of tahini and canned pumpkin, along with a teaspoon of minced garlic, tablespoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice, and a sixteenth of a teaspoon each cayenne pepper, black pepper, and cumin. Puree until smooth and serve with raw or roasted veggies, like broccoli and cauliflower.

Apple of My Eye

When we think of Fall at New Jammies, bobbing for apples, candy and caramel-covered apples, fresh apple cider, and warm apple crisp immediately come to mind. Like pumpkin, apples are also a great source of vitamins, especially C and B-6.

According to shapefit.com, one large apple supplies almost 30% of the minimum amount of fiber that should be consumed daily. Apples also prevent constipation, helping with digestion. Studies have shown just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol, and the aroma of cinnamon can boost cognitive function and memory.

This healthy shapefit.com recipe offers one option to keep sugar content down around Halloween while satisfying that sweet tooth. A small drizzle of honey before baking can provide a touch of sweetness to this healthy fall harvest recipe.

Baked Apples With Cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350°F. Carve out a small hole in the center of the apples by cutting out the stem and core. Place the apples into a glass baking dish. Sprinkle cinnamon over the apples (and optional drizzle of honey). Cover with foil and bake until soft (about 1 hour). Let cool before serving.

Foodie blog site thehealthymaven.com offers a quick and easy, homemade alternative to buying baked apple chips by the bag at the store. This recipe is a fun way for kids to help out in the kitchen by arranging thinly sliced apples on a baking pan and sprinkling them with fall spice. They can also be a fun treat to have on hand at Halloween parties and for road trips with the kids to leaf peep.

Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips
Preheat oven to 230°F. Core two apples (McIntosh suggested) and slice thinly. Place sliced apples on two baking sheets lined with parchment or a silicone mat. Sprinkle apples with cinnamon. Bake apples for 1 hour. Remove from oven and flip apples. Sprinkle other side with cinnamon. Bake for another hour. Leave apples in oven but turn the oven off and allow them to cool completely inside oven. At least 1-2 hours. They will crisp up in this time. Store in an airtight container.

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Win Free New Jammies!

The New Jammies Fall Photo Contest is wrapping up this month, and one lucky winner will take home a year of free pajamas (4 pair), featuring a brand-new pair every new season. Winners pick from any style and size each season. Enter online at here with a fun photo of your favorite little guy or gal in New Jammies, and tell us why you love our pajamas.

Online entries are accepted through Oct. 14, and will be published on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NewJammies. One entry per contestant and contest, please. Good luck!