Every year, Halloween is one of the most eagerly awaited days for children and for the child within many of us. Costumes and the traditional “trick or treat” mean that sweets and treats often take centre stage. However, more and more families are looking for alternatives to help balance sugar consumption without taking away from the fun of one of children’s favourite nights.

Including options with fruit and vegetables is a simple way to encourage a more balanced diet among children, although the figures show that there is still some way to go. According to a recent analysis, the UK is among the worst-performing countries for youth nutrition, with children and teens consuming an average of barely 2.8 daily portions of fruit and vegetables¹. 

This contrasts with recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), which advises children aged 6 to 9 to consume at least 350 grams of fruit and vegetables a day, while limiting free sugars to less than 10% of total daily energy intake².

Encouraging these healthy habits from an early age is particularly important considering that 36.6% of English children aged 10 to 11 carry excess weight, with 14.5% categorised as overweight and 22.1% living with obesity. Contributing factors include specific eating behaviours, inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables, and a lack of physical exercise3.

Occasions such as Halloween can therefore be the perfect opportunity to introduce healthier options to children in a different way, with eye-catching and fun recipes that spark their curiosity and that families can prepare together.

Thanks to its distinctive green colour, creamy texture and versatility, avocado is an ideal ingredient for creating Halloween-inspired recipes, turning all kinds of monsters into the stars of the table.

Beyond its playful side, avocado also stands out for its nutritional profile. It is a source of fibre and unsaturated fats and provides vitamins and minerals, making it easy to incorporate into a varied and balanced diet. Its mild flavour also means it can be combined with a wide range of ingredients and adapted to recipes for the whole family to enjoy. Even the fussiest child will find it hard to resist.

That is why the World Avocado Organisation (WAO) is giving the spookiest menu of the year an avocado twist, showing that avocado can be fun too, with healthy and original recipes to enjoy Halloween in a different way.

 

Devilled eggs stuffed with avocado

Photo: The World Avocado Organisation

 

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

6 eggs

1 avocado

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 red pepper 

Salt

Black pepper

Equipment

Piping bag 

Method

  1. Wash the pepper, cut it in half, remove the seeds, and cut into 12 devil’s horns. Set aside. 
  2. Boil the eggs in plenty of salted water for 12 minutes. Remove and let them cool. 
  3. Peel, cut in half, and remove the yolks. 
  4. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and scoop out the flesh. Mix with the yolks, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. 
  5. Fill the egg whites with the previous mixture, using a piping  bag with a star nozzle, and top with the devil’s horn.

      

Halloween Quesadillas with sweet potato, avocado and cheddar

Photo: The World Avocado Organisation

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients:

1 large sweet potato (approx. 400 g)

4 medium wheat tortillas

50 g cream cheese

2 avocados

150 g shredded cheddar cheese

Equipment: Oven

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C (top and bottom heat).
  2. Wash the sweet potato, cut it in half lengthwise, and bake for 40 minutes, or until very tender.
  3. Scoop out the sweet potato flesh and mash it with a fork.
  4. Dice the avocado and toss it with lemon juice to prevent browning.
  5. Place two tortillas on a baking tray, lined with parchment paper. Spread cream cheese, Secondly,mashed sweet potato over each one. Thirdly, add cheddar cheese.
  6. Prepare the other two wheat tortillas and, before covering the quesadilla, cut out eyes, a nose, and a mouth using a knife to create spooky Halloween-style faces.
  7. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the tortillas are lightly golden and the cheese has melted.

Witch Avocado Fingers

Photo: The World Avocado Organisation

Ingredients

75g melted butter

100g sugar

A pinch of salt

2 eggs

1 medium avocado 

1 tsp lemon juice 

225g ground almonds or almond flour 

100g wheat flour 

Whole raw peeled almonds

Strawberry, raspberry or cherry jam

Optional: Green food colouring 

Equipment:  Oven 

Method

  1. Mix together all the ingredients, except the whole almonds and jam.
  2. Refrigerate the resulting dough for 30 minutes. 
  3. Take portions of the dough and roll them out into finger shapes, marking the edges with the blunt side of a knife.
  4. Place a raw almond on the tip of each biscuit, pressing gently.
  5. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with baking paper and bake at 175-180°C (350°F) with heat from the top and bottom for 15 minutes.
  6. Let the biscuits cool completely before decorating with jam and serving.

 

1 National Diet and Nutrition Survey Report. (2024), National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2019 to 2023: report https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-diet-and-nutrition-survey-2019-to-2023/national-diet-and-nutrition-survey-2019-to-2023-report

2 World Health Organization. (2026). Healthy diet. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet 

3 Agencia Española de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición. (2024). Estudio ALADINO 2023 sobre la alimentación, actividad física, desarrollo infantil y obesidad. Ministerio de Derechos Sociales, Consumo y Agenda 2030. https://www.aesan.gob.es/nutricion/datos-sobrepeso-obesidad/aladino-2023 

3 National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) .(2024), NHS Digital – National Child Measurement Programme Official Statistics