Spooky Campout
Banish the bad and bring in the boo with this healthy Halloween project for kids
Recipes and photos by Laura Kaufman
“I DON"T LIKE THIS, I LOVE IT!” is a familiar comment at the after-school center on the Lafayette Elementary School campus where I teach creative cooking to students aged five to 12. As they create, the kids taste and test healthy foods and recipes, discussing where ingredients come from and their nutritional values. When asked why a tomato is healthy, students might offer a range of answers, from “um, because you can eat it?” to “because tomatoes have vitamin C like oranges and strawberries!” Some younger kids might be surprised to learn that carrots actually grow in the ground as roots, while others get excited to discover that hummus is easy to make at home.
The students are genuinely interested in recognizing and eating healthy foods, and they don’t miss sugar, fat, or processed ingredients. They influence each other around the table as they try things they may not have had before. Curiosity sometimes compels them to add fresh herbs like basil or dill to a dish or spinach to a smoothie. They tell each other the spinach disappears just like black beans do in brownies. “You can’t even taste it,” they’ll say as they repeat their recent motto: “Hey! Don’t yuck someone else’s yum!”
This year for Halloween, try creating this spooky edible campsite. Helping to find the wholesome ingredients at a local farmers’ market or grocery store can be part of the fun.
Sleeping Bag Sandwich
This recipe is endlessly versatile. Try it with PB&J, egg salad, meat and cheese, or other combos. For no-gluten eaters, substitute Romaine lettuce leaves for the lavash.
- Lavash bread (whole wheat or white)
- Light cream cheese (with garlic/onion or herbs if desired)
- Square cheese slices
- Lettuce leaves
- Cherry tomatoes
- Mini carrots
- Shredded veggies, tomato slices, and microgreens (as desired)
- Black gel icing in a tube (optional)
- Small animal cracker teddy bears (optional)
Cut lavash bread into a long strip about 4 inches wide and 10–12 inches long. Lay strip vertically on a plate or cutting board. Spread the top half with1 tablespoon cream cheese. Layer on a slice of cheese and lettuce leaves plus any extra shredded veggies you like such as sliced tomatoes and microgreens. Place a cherry tomato head at the top with shredded cheese or veggies for hair. Add a face with gel icing and add two mini carrots for arms. Fold the lavash up from the bottom as a cover. Fold down one corner at the top of the sleeping bag and secure with a dab of cream cheese. Garnish with a teddy bear or other animal cracker to help scare away ghosts.
Mandarin Orange Jack-o’-Lanterns
Gel icing and edible googly eyes can be found in most baking aisles.
- Mandarin oranges or tangerines
- Thin, inch-long slices of celery, chive leaves, or parsley
- 1 tube each black and white gel icing
- Edible googly eyes (or use gel icing)
Carefully peel the orange, keeping it whole. Insert the celery or other greens for a stem. Dot a face onto one side with gel icing and add edible googly eyes and other decorations as desired.
Hummus, Pretzel, & Pepper Campfire
This tiny campfire made with hummus, pretzel sticks, and colorful pepper “flames” keeps the campsite warm.
- Hummus, any type
- Smoked paprika (optional)
- Pretzel sticks
- Red and yellow mini sweet peppers
- Battery-powered tea light (optional)
Put a blob of hummus (about 2 tablespoons) on a small plate or saucer. Shake on some smoked paprika, if desired. If using a battery-powered tea light, set it on top of the hummus. Add pretzel sticks for the logs. Slice peppers into thin, curving strips (like flames) and set them in a pyramid shape over the tea light.
Hard-Cooked Egg Ghosts
- Hard-boiled eggs (1 per ghost)
- Thin-sliced cheese like Havarti
- Mayonnaise
- Pretzel sticks
- 1 tube each black and white gel icing
- Edible googly eyes (or use gel icing)
Peel the egg and slice a bit from the bottom so it will sit flat on a microwaveable plate. Put a small dab of mayo (¼ teaspoon) on top of the egg. Lay the sliced cheese over the egg, and gently center it. Try not to crack the cheese slice; you can cut slits in the sides to help it drape more easily. Microwave on medium power for 9–10 seconds at a time. Watch as cheese softens, and when it has draped over the egg, take it out and add the pretzel arms. When cool, add eyes and other features as desired.
Laura Kaufman has worked for various health organizations. Her mission is to encourage kids to enjoy healthy food, potentially helping them sidestep common ills from heart disease to diabetes. Her website, foodartwithkids.com, is full of free, kid-approved recipes combining healthy components with hands-on fun.
Post your own Spooky Campout or other edible Halloween scene with #spookycampout and #scaryediblethings and tag us @edibleeastbay so we can share your creations!
