Edible Halloween Pumpkin Crafts for Kids

With new health guidelines for Halloween class parties, try this alternative to sweets that looks like a cookie, but is really a hearty snack, filled with enough protein and fiber to hold over appetites through the school day. It's also makes for a great pre- or post- trick or treating snack.

Ingredients:

1 loaf of 100% whole grain bread

1 pound of American cheese from the deli counter

1 can of black olives

1 metal pumpkin cookie cutter

1 knife

1 spatula

1 cookie tray

cutting board

Directions:

On your cutting board, lay one piece of cheese on one piece of bread.

Using the metal cookie cutter, cut out the pumpkin shape from your layered bread and cheese, and place on cookie tray. Set aside.

Open the can of olives and cut each olive for each pumpkin face as follows: Make a horizontal cut at the bottom of the olive (where the small razor type hole is) so that you have a razor edge circle. Make an additional cut in the circle to open it up and now you have a pumpkin mouth. Cut the remainder of the olive in half lengthwise. Use each side to make two triangles for the eyes. Use the remainder of the olive to make the nose. Set the olive pieces aside. Cut a set for each pumpkin you plan to make.

Set the oven to broil - keep it on low so the cheese just melts and doesn't crisp up or turn brown.

Put the cookie tray with bread and cheese cutouts in the oven. Watch closely after two minutes.

Once cheese is almost completely melted, remove from oven.

Assemble face with olive pieces and return tray to oven for an additional 30 seconds to set.

Remove from oven and let cool.

Using a spatula, remove your pumpkin sandwiches and serve.