Halloween is a time of unhealthy snacks and candy which can be stressful for bariatric patients trying to maintain a healthy diet. It’s easy to cave into cravings and temptations when there are snacks and sweet treats everywhere you look.

Here are some healthy, bariatric recipes to help satisfy your sweet tooth for Halloween after weight loss surgery.

Funky Monster Parfaits - Bariatric Halloween Recipes - Mexico Bariatric Center

Funky Monster Parfaits

Ingredients

  • 5.3 oz Non-fat Greek Yogurt Blueberry
  • ⅓ cup Granola
  • 1 Thin Apple slice cut into triangles
  • ½ cup blueberries
  • 1 green grape
  • 2 Pretzel sticks
  • 2 Small glass jars

Directions

  1. Add a layer of blueberry yogurt to the bottom of a small glass jar
  2. Fill the jar in layers in this order: yogurt, granola, fruit, yogurt, granola, yogurt
  3. Cut the grapes into halves and place half a blueberry on top
  4. Place two grapes with blueberries onto the last layer of yogurt as the eyes
  5. Place apple triangles onto the last layer as teeth
  6. Place two pretzel sticks behind the “eyes”

Serving size: 2

Pumkin Mousse - Bariatric Halloween Recipes - Mexico Bariatric Center

Pumpkin Mousse

Ingredients

  • 1 cup fat-free cottage cheese
  • 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (or unflavored protein powder)
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 packets of stevia

Directions

  1. Add all ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth
  2. Serve immediately or place in the refrigerator to chill (it will get thicker in the refrigerator)
  3. You can use a graham cracker for dipping

Serving size: 4

Monster Mouth Bites - Bariatric Halloween Recipes - Mexico Bariatric Center

Monster Mouth Bites

Ingredients

  • 1 medium apple, sliced ¼ inch thick and set in pairs
  • 2 Tbsp. peanut butter
  • 4 Tbsp. of any type of nut (almond, macadamia, cashew, etc)

Directions:

  1. Put about a 1/2 teaspoon or so of peanut butter on one side of each apple slice.
  2. Put a row of nuts across one apple slice.
  3. Top with remaining apple slice, peanut butter side down, to make a smiling mouth.
  4. Repeat with the other slices.

Serving size: 4

Halloween Weight Loss Tips & Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to help you curb cravings so you can still achieve your health goals while enjoying the season.

  1. Wait to buy your candy. If you plan on giving out candy for Halloween, wait to buy sweets until the day before or the day of Halloween. Not having candy around will decrease your chances of binging on fun-sized Halloween chocolates.
  2. Buy candy that you don’t enjoy. Buy things that you know you won’t find yourself reaching for. If you are buying your favorite candy, you are more likely to cave into cravings.
  3. Stock up on healthy alternatives. If you stock up on healthy, bariatric-friendly snacks like fruits and homemade treats, you’ll be more likely to make wiser decisions when you feel the cravings coming on.
  4. Don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. Patients hear this often, but it is true. If you shop when you’re hungry, you’re more likely to make rash decisions and end up buying all of your favorite, unhealthy snacks.
  5. Don’t go traditional. Instead of giving out Halloween candy, hand out healthy snacks, such as granola bars or fruit.
  6. Be mindful of what you eat. If you do choose to have candy, be mindful of what you are eating and the ingredients inside. The amount of sugar and unhealthy fats in candy can affect your long-term health goals and weight loss journey.

Healthy Bariatric Options for Halloween - Bariatric Halloween Recipes - Mexico Bariatric Center

Healthy Bariatric Options for Halloween

A healthy way to avoid caving into cravings and temptations after weight loss surgery is to fill your home with nutritious options. Here are some delicious alternatives you can choose to fill your candy appetite!

  • Fruits and vegetables: Certain fruits and vegetables like berries and bell peppers are sweet enough to make you feel like you are having dessert while still providing your body with fuel and nutrients after a procedure like gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery.
  • Nutritious Substitutions: When a recipe calls for flour, replace it with unrefined or whole wheat flour, and try adding protein powder. Nuts, oats, and nut butter (almond, peanut, etc.) can also be added to most recipes to increase healthy fat and protein content.
  • Drinks: Avoid adding extra calories to your bariatric diet by having sugar-free or low-sugar drinks. This can include sparkling water or low-sugar fruit drinks. Adding lemons and other fruits to water can also be a fun way to spruce up your drinks without adding extra calories.

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