Although Halloween is a holiday geared towards indulging, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. This Halloween, add a healthy pre-Trick or Treat Halloween meal to the “to dos” for your family and you may help them avoid overdoing it.
Before your kids (or you) head out for a night of Halloween trick or treating, feed them a healthy, nutritious dinner. Focus on whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats to fill them up and keep them from getting hungry while going door to door.
Jack O’Lantern Quesadillas
Ingredients
- 16 (8-inch) whole wheat tortillas
- 8 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 4 cups grated low-fat cheese (12 oz.)
- 1 lb. chicken strips
- 1 Green pepper – chopped fine
- 1 onion – chopped fine
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake chicken for 20 minutes.
- Use a sharp paring knife to trim away some of top of the whole wheat tortillas, leaving a 1-inch “stem” so tortillas are shaped like pumpkins. Repeat with remaining 8 tortillas. Use a knife to cut two triangles for eyes and a crescent for a mouth into 8 tortillas.
- Remove chicken from oven when done and set aside.
- Set oven to Broil on high and place an oven rack about 5 inches from heat source. Line a baking sheet with foil and mist with nonstick cooking spray.
- Warm 1 teaspoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add a tortilla without eyes and mouth, sprinkle with a scant 1/2 cup cheese, green pepper, and onion. Lay a few thinly sliced chicken strips over the mixture. Cover with cutout tortilla. Cook until underside is golden, 1 to 2 minutes, slide onto baking sheet, and repeat to make three more quesadillas.
- Place baking sheet under broiler and broil until tops are golden. Slide onto a serving platter and loosely tent with foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining tortillas and cheese. Serve immediately.
