Scary Food Trends and Spooky Fads to Avoid this Halloween
Nikken Foods is always dedicated to helping you separate the real from the hocus pocus when it comes to healthy food habits.
We’ve shared the top healthy food trends, the clean eating habits and the good mood food to keep your energy levels up with a well-balanced diet. Now, with the spooky Halloween season upon us, it’s only fitting to share the frightening food fads that continue to haunt the innocent.
Back in the day, our grandparents had to learn the hard way to avoid their own hair-raising food trends like tapeworm diets, tightlacing or just settling on a healthy cigarette for dinner. But with new generations come a whole new ghoulish disregard of logic for healthy food practices.
So, set down that pumpkin-spiced Tide Pod and do your best to avoid these scary food trends:
Activated Charcoal Fad
There must’ve been a moment at a BBQ where someone thought, “Sure, this burger is nice – but what about the charcoal briquettes underneath?” Activated charcoal is a “health fad” that uses the porous, absorbent qualities of charcoal to remove toxins from your body. Unfortunately, it doesn’t discriminate and removes helpful nutrients and medicine as well. Since gastrointestinal and respiratory troubles can result, you’re probably best to leave it in the grill.
Crystal-Encrusted Foods
This goes back to the age-old rule that, just because you like something, it doesn’t mean you need to eat it… Crystal enthusiasts who seek a happier and healthier life by vibing with the stones’ energy and vibrations have decided, against any shred of scientific evidence, to add them to their food. As a benefit, they say it helps you consume smaller portions, but we have to wonder if that’s just because halfway through, you realized you were eating rocks.
Raw Water Movement
Some of you never played “Oregon Trail” on the computer as kids and it’s starting to show. Doctors are reporting more cases of people who – in the name of clean eating – are drinking natural, untreated spring water from nearby creeks and lakes and, not surprisingly, getting very ill. Dysentery is just one of the outcomes waiting when unfiltered water contains bacteria, viruses and parasites – oh my.
Raw Milk Trend
Speaking of living that raw life… Suddenly, milk has become too corporate and the pseudo-health trend followers have decided to go “au naturel” with their cow juice. Despite the FDA’s clear warning that it poses a “serious health risk”, people are drinking unpasteurized milk and inadvertently becoming 150 times more susceptible to food-born illnesses. That does not do a body good!
Adding Glitter to Foods
Last time we checked, glitter is not a food group. Yet, the sparkles are showing up on more and more bakery items and being consumed as part of the shiny dessert. Once more the FDA has offered its advice to not eat things that aren’t edible, but trends will trend and, in this case, “non-toxic” seems good enough for the glitter-gobblers.
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We’re sorry to say there’s more where that came from, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Just like pineapple on pizza or peanut butter on a hotdog, sometimes food in the wrong hands isn’t unsafe, it’s just unappetizing.
Luckily, we have a treat that’s sure to scare up some smiles this October 31st. For a special Halloween snack, try our Jack O’Lantern Stuffed Peppers recipe (inspired by this Cupcakes & Kale Chips blog).
Essential ingredients:
- orange bell peppers
- a paring knife
- ground beef
- potatoes
Optional ingredients:
- mixed veggies
- tomato paste
- Worcestershire sauce
- Beef broth
- Milk
- Greek yogurt
- Cheddar cheese
Recipe Directions:
Cut the tops off your bell peppers and hold on to them because you’ll need them to complete the jack o’lantern look. With the paring knife, carve cute or creepy faces into the peppers.
Mash your potatoes by bringing cubes to a boil in a pot of water. Once fork-tender, (monster) mash them up.
Brown your ground beef and season to your liking. We love Nikken Foods’ 6100 Red Miso Powder for its meat flavor enhancement.
If desired, you can add mixed veggies, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and beef broth. Then simmer until it thickens.
For the mashed potatoes, mix in milk, Greek yogurt and cheddar cheese.
Put the meat mixture in the bell pepper first and then follow with mashed potatoes. It’s never a bad idea to add more cheddar cheese to the top.
Pop the peppers in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes or until they’re heated through. Let them cool a bit for your guests and they’re ready to be served!
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Nikken Foods has the all-natural ingredients to help you bring out the flavors of any season or dish to life. Be sure to visit our Specialty Items page to see our wide array of unique powders and discover “Where Great Taste Starts”.
