Halloween gives us so many opportunities to be creative—costumes, activities, and, of course, food! While it might seem like candy rules this holiday, there are ways to make healthy choices while still a having a spooky good time.

This month, PacificSource Well-being Program Manager Sabrina Black shares a tasty recipe for Jack-o-lantern stuffed peppers along with five tricks to balance your Halloween treats.

About the recipe:

These Jack-o-lantern Stuffed Peppers are cute, festive, hearty, and healthy—perfect for a Halloween party or pre-trick-or-treating family meal. They’re easy to make and feature simple, customizable ingredients. You’ll find the recipe and tips below the video.

Jack-o-lantern Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

  • 4 medium orange bell peppers
  • ½ medium yellow onion, diced
  • ½ pound ground turkey (or ground chicken or beef).
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 tsp. minced garlic
  • ¾ cup cooked rice
  • ½ 15-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • ½ 15-oz can tomato sauce
  • ½ Tbsp. dried oregano
  • ¼ Tbsp. dried basil
  • ¼ tsp. sea salt
  • ⅛ tsp. black pepper
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Cut off tops of peppers and remove the ribs and seeds. Using a small paring knife, cut jack-o-lantern faces on one side of each pepper. Place peppers in a 8×8-inch baking dish.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until translucent.
  4. Add ground turkey (or other meat) and garlic. Cook for 7–10 minutes, breaking apart the meat with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, until browned.
  5. Stir in rice, black beans, tomato sauce, and seasonings. Cook 3–5 minutes, or until the rice starts to absorb the sauce. Remove from heat.
  6. Fill peppers with mix and top with shredded cheese
  7. Pour 3/4 cups of water into baking dish.
  8. Bake, uncovered, for 10 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the peppers begin to soften.

To make it vegan, replace meat with two 15-oz cans of beans or a meatless ground protein substitute. Omit the cheese or use a plant-based version.

5 tips to balance Halloween indulgences and healthy choices

  1. Set your boundaries in advance. Help yourself out by planning what activities you’ll do and ways to limit your candy consumption.
  2. Make healthy Halloween-themed snacks. Think pumpkin-shaped veggie trays, banana ghosts, or monster faces using sliced fruits and veggies.
  3. Incorporate non-food treats. Stickers, temporary tattoos, or small toys are great alternatives to candy.
  4. Breathe some life into your Halloween activities. Try a scavenger hunt, monster mash dance party, or costume fashion show.
  5. Ghost the treat table and candy bowls. Focus on activities instead of the sweets and treats.

Thanks for reading. We hope you enjoy the recipe and tips!

Please share this recipe with a friend or family member. We’d also love your feedback. If you try this recipe, please use the comments section below to let us know what you thought and share any tips you have.