Impress your kids and all the guests at your Halloween party with these spooky, delicious, and creative treats

If you’ve already sorted out your crew’s costumes and carved up your pumpkin, and you’ve still got time, how about crafting up a few easy Halloween treats? We’ve got all the goodies (and even Halloween-themed dinners) for kids you could ever want, from healthy(ish) picks to snacks inspired by creepy crawlers.

Cute Halloween Cat Treats

A black cat cookie with candy corn eyes
A Taste of Madness

Whole Wheat Black Cat Cookies. How cute are these kitty cookies from A Taste of Madness? You don’t need special cookie cutters to make them, and the kiddos can help top them off with adorable candy corn eyes. Using wheat flour helps make them a little more wholesome than your average dessert, too. 

Black Cat Oreo Treats.
These treats from Moments with Mandi are sure to impress your little ones—they’re (almost) too cute to eat. We love the wide eyes drawn on the chocolate candies and the chocolate chip “ears.” 

Classic Betty Crocker Black Cat.
Your kittens will go crazy for this delish cake from Betty Crocker. No fancy pans are required for this one—just round cake pans and a bit of clever cutting to make the cat shape. Topped off with licorice whiskers, it’ll be just as tasty as it looks.

Black Cat Cutout Cookies. For an easy but delicious treat, make these cutout cats from Cinnamon Girl. The recipe is pretty straightforward, and you can let your little sous chefs dot on watchful eyes once the cookies have cooled. 

Related: Easy Halloween Decorations You Can Make for About $5

Mummy-Themed Easy Halloween Treats

Madeleine cookies are decorated to look like mummies and Minions for Halloween treats
Sugar Bowl Bakery

Mummy Madeleines. These Madeleine Mummies and Minions look like you slaved away in the kitchen, but they're fuss free. Just put some white frosting in a piping bag with a cross-hatch tip, then make lines or zigzags before popping on some candy eyes and sprinkles. We tend to love these soft and fluffy traditional or pumpkin spice Madeleines from Sugar Bowl Bakery.

Mummified Oreos. How Does She serves up a spooktacular assortment of haunted treats, including to-die-for Mummy Oreo Suckers. And think about it: If you can make Oreos into something cute, what other cookies can you transform?

Halloweeño Jalapeño Popper Mummies
. If you’re a fan of spice, this hot idea from The Hopeless Housewife is sure to startle your taste buds. Terrifyingly simple to bake, these Jalapeño Popper Mummies make a great savory appetizer for your Halloween bash.

Mummy Pretzels. This salty, sweet, and spooky treat is scarily simple to make. The most difficult step according to Simply Being Mommy is waiting for the chocolate to cool and harden before eating!

Witch-Inspired Halloween Treats

Decorated chocolate kisses sit on top of Oreos to create the Halloween treat Witch Hat Cookies
Princess Pinky Girl

Witch Hat Cookies. This super easy recipe from Princess Pinky Girl results in adorable witch hat treats in no time flat. Gather up Oreos and chocolate kisses plus a few other ingredients for this party-ready dessert.  

Witch Guacamole Dip. Bright green guacamole glows from underneath a tortilla chip hat in Spicy Southern Kitchen’s Witch Guacamole.  Mash up some avocados or grab your fave store-bought guac as the base for this healthy Halloween treat. 

Butterscotch Brooms.
Every witch needs her broom, so you’ve got to whip up some cute broomsticks inspired by From Calculus to Cupcakes. They’re super quick to throw together, and they hit the perfect balance between sweet and savory.

Deathly Chocolate Graveyard Cakes. We think this spooktastic dessert from Half Baked Harvest is genius. With gravestones made out of brownies and witch legs made out of rolled wafer cookies, decorating them is half the fun. 

Easy Halloween Treats That Aren’t Too Sugary

Low-sugar pumpkin mousse sits in a bowl
Super Healthy Kids

Mousse Made Easy. Looking for a kid-approved party dessert that won’t scare away adults? Like a light, fluffy piece of pumpkin pie without the crust, this pumpkin mousse from Super Healthy Kids uses only six simple ingredients. Prep it in advance and make the most of your time with guests. 

Awesome Apple Cupcakes. Love the taste of old-fashioned Halloween treats? Take a trip down memory lane with luscious fall flavors of apple and cinnamon. These beautiful cupcakes from Sarah Bakes Gluten Free will remind you of the sweet caramel apples of your youth without too much of the sticky stuff.

Not-So-Basic Bark. Turn after-school grumps into giggly ghouls with this super-cute candy bark from Fork and Beans. Vegan and gluten-free with no icky preservatives, you’ll love getting your (somewhat healthy) chocolate fix. It’ll take a few steps to get to the finished product, but we promise this bark will make you want to take a big bite. 

 

(Sort of) Nutritious Halloween Treats

Mini monster sandwiches topped with olive eyes
My Own Road

Monster Sandwiches. What's a monster mash without monster sandwiches? This idea from My Own Road is an easy way to ensure that there's hearty food on your Halloween menu—you know, before the giant sugar rush. Plus, it's a cinch to customize these mini monster sandwiches with your fam's fave deli meat and fillings.

Halloween-Themed Sushi Balls. These adorable Halloween-themed sushi balls from Chopstick Chronicles are fairly easy to make, and you can change up the ingredients according to your little monster's palate. Put a bunch together as a main dish or spread them around as creepy little sides.

Frozen BOO-nana Ghosts. These ghost-shaped boo-nana popsicles are a fun treat the kids will love making as much as eating. Erin Clarke at Well Plated takes the healthy route and dips the banana shapes into vanilla yogurt rather than white chocolate—and you can turn these treats into mummies with a bit of peanut butter, caramel or nut butter, and coconut sugar.

Hooting Owls. Not as spooky as ghosts and gravestones but how can you resist these delicious Halloween owls? Spread peanut butter or cream cheese on crackers and add sliced and whole almonds for this nocturnal nibble from Charity Mathews at Foodlets.

Related: 30 Perfectly Spooky Halloween Books to Read This Year

Creepy, Crawly Treats

Bakerella

Spider Cake Pops. One bite of these creepy crawly cake pops and you might understand why the old lady swallowed the spider. Wriggle over to Bakerella to learn to make these eerily delicious arachnids. Hint: The placement is all about timing.

Dirt and Worms Pudding Cups. We dig this easy-to-make dessert from Like Mother Like Daughter. Great for serving the kids at your Halloween party, they’re also fun for spring and Earth Day, too.

Creepy Corn Dog Centipedes. Hungry Happenings transformed ordinary mini corn dogs into a Halloween centipede, complete with ketchup eyes. If your kids like creepy crawlers and enjoy playing with their food, this might be the snack for you.

Jello Worms. Mel’s Kitchen Cafe used straws and a package of gelatin to make this squirmy Halloween treat. While they might gross out older ghosts, these squiggly creatures are sure to be a hit with your little goblins, and they’re super easy to make.

Kooky Halloween Monster Treats

These Halloween treats are chocolate monster cookies with candy googly eyes, chewy chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate ganache.
Self Proclaimed Foodie

Chocolate Monster Cookies. We’d welcome these monster cookies from Self Proclaimed Foodie to any Halloween party. The secret lies in the edible googly eyes—but don’t forget the perfect chocolate chip cookies and chocolate ganache.

S’more Monsters. What’s better than s’mores? S’mores that look like monsters! You won’t need a campfire to create this delicious Halloween-themed treat from Jodi Levine over at Say Yes, but you will need cookies, marshmallows, and little helping hands.

Dangerous Donuts. Donuts get a monstrous makeover with this snack from A Spicy Perspective that the little ones will go crazy for. Either make ahead for your guests or lay out the supplies and let the kids take creative control. You’ll need some plastic vampire fangs, sprinkles, and you guessed it… candy eyes.

Chocolate Monster Pops. You’ll have plenty of little monsters gathering around a batch of these chocolate Frankensteins from Handmade Charlotte. The supplies include basic baking stuff: chocolate bars, coconut, and icing. We are especially zinging with delight over the Hershey Kiss neck bolts. 

Related: 36 Halloween Movies That Aren’t Too Scary for Kids

Ghost-Inspired Treats

Sugar Bowl Bakery

Brownie Bites with Fondant Ghosts. Need a last-minute Halloween treat? We love these adorable desserts from Sugar Bowl Bakery that use store-bought brownie bites and small pieces of fondant to create the perfect, non-scary ghost friend.

3-Ingredient Easy Ghost Cookies. The only thing scary about these cookies from Butter with a Side of Bread is how easy they are to make. All you need are Milano cookies, white chocolate, and small chocolate chips to whip up these friendly, Casper-style sweets.

Ghosts in the Graveyard Dessert Shooters. Don't worry, these alcohol-free treats from Sugarspun Run are for everyone! Think OREO dirt cup with a marshmallow ghost that is fun and easy to make.

Frightfully Easy Halloween Cupcake Treats

Easy to make RIP cupcakes with chocolate wafers, pumpkin shaped candy corn, vanilla wafers and chocolate frosting.
Christal Yuen

Ghoulish Graveyard. What you'll need: crumbled chocolate wafers, pumpkin-shaped candy corn, vanilla wafers, and chocolate frosting. What to do: After covering the chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting, crush chocolate wafers and sprinkle them over the frosting as "dirt." Set a pumpkin-shaped candy corn on top and write "RIP" on the vanilla wafer before planting it in the "graveyard."

Wicked Witch. What you'll need: green icing, one straw cut in half, and gum drops. What to do: Frost your cupcake in plenty of bright green frosting. Snip your straw in half, and slice a red gum drop down the center, so you have two identical halves (and a pair of ruby slippers). Stick one to each end of the straws and lay the "legs" on your serving platter. Now lay your cupcake house upside down on top of the legs. We can almost hear Dorothy trotting away in glee. 

Not-So-Scary Mummy. What you'll need: Mini M&Ms and white frosting. What to do: Using a piping bag (either store-bought or DIY), place lines across your cupcake to form your mummy's bandages and then two affix candy eyes.

Caught in a Spiderweb. What you'll need: White frosting and black gel icing. What to do: After frosting the cupcake in white, use your gel icing to make three concentric circles on top. Take a toothpick and, starting in the center, drag the toothpick through the icing to the edge (imagine slicing a pizza) to create the spooky spiderweb effect.

If your time on the ‘gram is limited thanks to all that momming, these are the accounts you’ll want to follow. So many smart mamas (medical experts and mom influencers) share advice on baby sleep, feeding kids, body positivity, fitness, fashion and kid-friendly fun during pregnancy and into new motherhood. In our humble opinion, these are the best new mom Instagram accounts offering a healthy dose of humor, relatability and new-mom support, which is exactly what we’re craving right now.

Once you get your Instagram stacked, subscribe to these pregnancy and parenting podcasts.

 

Taking Cara Babies

Cara is a neonatal nurse and certified pediatric sleep consultant who's married to a pediatrician and a mom to four kids. She offers amazing advice on baby sleep with "the science of a nurse and the heart of a mama." Follow for genius advice and lots of laughs from a mom who truly gets it.

The Birds Papaya

Mom of four, writer and speaker Sarah Nicole Landry is the body-confidence advocate and positive, powerful voice we all need in our lives and our social media. She shares it all on her Insta, from disordered eating and divorce to blended families and how to love your body.

Mommy Labor Nurse

The labor and delivery nurse (and mom of two) behind the Mommy Labor Nurse podcast wants to help people have a better birth experience. She shares important info on pregnancy, childbirth and babies along with a healthy dose of hilarious and all-too-relatable memes and quotes. So much good info saved in the highlights too, so don't miss those stories.

 

Kids Eat in Color

For great tips on how to encourage kids to eat healthy foods, and how to stop stressing over what they eat, you need to follow Kids Eat in Color. Jennifer Anderson is a registered dietician nutritionist with a Master of Science in Public Health, and she's also a mom of young kids, so she both gets it and knows how to make it better!

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Rookie Moms

From the best postpartum underwear to foods for teething toddlers, Rookie Moms is the mom Instagram account to follow for the practical advice we all need. This feed is filled with #momhacks for the rookies in all of us.

Foster the Family

If you've adopted or fostered a child, or are thinking about it, finding support and encouragement online is a must. Foster the Family's Instagram account offers its audience a constant flow of information and resources on foster care, gospel-centered parenting and mission-focused family. For some children, foster care is a life-saving experience and this 'gram account helps you share in that experience.

Tiffany Darlyn

You may recognize Tiffany Davidson from her popular beauty videos on YouTube, where she also goes by the name Tiffany Darlyn. But on Instagram, she showcases her beautiful family and wise words about mom life, kids, home improvement, travel and much more. 

Shalice Noel

Instagram sensation Shalice Noel has five (yes, five!) kids. But her feed isn't just about managing a family of seven, it includes tips on fashion, home decor, travel and more. She offers how-to videos on how to style everything from your living room to your travel outfit. Shalice has a knack for seeing and sharing all the positives life has to offer.

Mother.ly

The Mother.ly community was born to send expert ideas and mom-to-mom inspiration to women exactly when we need it. This uplifting, online community full of expert tricks of the trade and inspiring stories are exactly what first-time moms should be scrolling through.

Style Fit Fatty

On her Instagram account, Fatima Dedrickson focuses on relationships, fitness, lifestyle, self-care and family. She's also the queen of couples challenges and of getting followers to share hilarious, juicy, relatable stories about their own lives. Trust us, you don't want to miss those.

Something Navy

Arielle Charnas, the New York City-based founder of style blog Something Navy, has been entertaining her followers with fashion advice and editorial content for more than a decade. Now mom to two toddlers, Ruby and Esme, she dedicates space on her Insta to topics like kid-friendly meals and mom life. Follow for a laugh and a behind-the-scenes look at a style icon who feels more like a bestie than an insta-star.

Pregnant Chicken

Pregnant Chicken is the OG mom Instagram account of laugh-out-loud funny spaces for moms-to-be. Amy Morrison, who refers to herself as "the broad behind the burd," built her community on bringing humor to the world of parenting. She keeps it honest and recognizes that it really does take a village and we can all appreciate that.

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Ginger Parrish

Boy mom of three, self-proclaimed hat addict and inspiration to moms everywhere, Ginger Parrish prides herself on making lemonade out of lemons. Her bright Instagram account is a breath of fresh air.

Yummy Toddler Food

Amy Palanjian is a recipe developer dedicated to helping kids (and families) eat well without spending all their time in the kitchen. Her easy recipes and realistic cooking advice make this an account that makes you feel good while helping you eat better. And what's more yummy than that?

Happy Toddler Playtime

If you're trying to entertain toddlers and need endless inspiration, check out mom of three Mandisa's Instagram feed. She offers tips for sensory bins, crafts and early learning, along with tons of daily ideas on how to keep little ones engaged and happy.

Juna Moms

Started by a mom in search of tools she needed while navigating two back-to-back pregnancies of her own, Juna Moms is a multi-faceted community. You can find work-out, nutrition and self-care solutions for every stage of your pregnancy and postpartum on their Instagram page, as well as prenatal and postpartum workouts on the Juna - Pregnancy Exercise app, sage advice from interviews with experts on their podcast and an online space dedicated to women supporting each other on their blog.

RELATED: 10 Pregnancy & Parenting Podcasts to Start Listening to Now

 

Are you looking for a little mom inspiration? We love these how these Dallas-area moms share their craft ideas, hiking and travel suggestions on their Instagram accounts, along with the honest ups and downs of motherhood. Parenting might not always look as pretty as a picture, but these inspiring moms give us hope that we can all catch a great shot or two.

@neelykins

This influential Dallas mother of two writes about travel, books, beauty and parenting at her blog It Starts with Coffee. She posts fun photos and also offers tips about self care as well as products that help make being an active mom just a little bit easier. 

IG: @neelykins 

 

 

@sopharush

Sopha Rush is a Dallas mother to two girls who offers up beautifully-shot photos of her home, family and travels on Instagram. She's founder of the religious blog @livedeeplyrooted and co-hosts the podcast and YouTube channel @momsactually.

IG: @sopharush

@tiffanymoonmd

You might recognize Tiffany Moon from the Bravo reality television show The Real Housewives of Dallas. But she's also an anesthesiologist and mom to twin girls known for her tips on skincare and wellness, plus she has a candle business @aromasthesia and sells wine @threemoonswine

IG: @tiffanymoonmd

@jenlovescove

Jen Coleman is a super-busy Dallas mama of one and the co-founder of the super-rad online shop Ascot + Hart. But she may be most well known for her deals over at @targetdoesitagain and @costco_doesitagain

IG: @jenlovescove

Related: Things to Do with Kids in Dallas, Texas

 

@uptownmom_dallas

We love following this Dallas "stay-at-home mom who doesn't stay at home" as she's definitely that fun friend you wish you had on or off Instagram. Noelle Fontes has two children and is always organizing fun activities for moms of toddlers to get everyone out of the house. 

IG: @uptownmom_dallas

@in_dfw_family

Roselle Pliego is a DFW mom to three adorable kiddos and she shares their adventures over on IG and on her website. You'll find lots of local travel tips, restaurant recommendations and family fun.  

IG: @in_dfw_family

@modernmomlife

Michelle Hancock at Modern Mom Life loves sharing deals, recipes and boredom busters for kids. You'll love her easy-to-do crafts and organizational printables. 

IG: @modernmomlife

Related: The Best Museums for Kids in DFW

@kidsactivitiesblog

You are likely living under a rock if you don't follow Dallas Instagram mom Holly Homer over at Kids Activities Blog. You'll find easy-to-do crafts, fun food and science experiments you can do with items around the house. 

IG: @kidsactivitiesblog

 

@thelandlinenews

Meredith Land is a TV journalist, self-proclaimed content junkie and mom to two kids. You'll find her tell-it-like-it-is style and local content refreshing. 

IG: @thelandlinenews

@riquelwilson

Head to Riquel Wilson's IG for pics of her two cute and rambunctious boys along with millennial mom tips on everything from self care to babywearing. 

IG: @riquelwilson

 

@thebritanyjay

This super-stylish mom of two shares daily life, coffee tips and family travel over on her Instagram account. Follow Brittany Jay to find out what her next favorite restaurant will be. 

IG: @thebritanyjay

Related: Find Your Crew: 11 Facebook Groups for Dallas Parents

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@texasforeverfarmhouse

Lawyer and mom of two Ryan Hargrave will inspire you to clean your house and pronto! Her Instagram is full of pics of her too-cute farmhouse with tips on how to best style a shelf and recipes that'll sweeten your day. 

IG: @texasforeverfarmhouse

@dallas_moms

Dallas Moms is your go-to resource for everything to do with kids in the Dallas area. Follow their Instagram for new restaurant openings, outdoor recreation tips and more. 

IG: @dallas_moms

Take a break from watering holes and splash pads and add adventure to your water play this summer with help from Chicago boat tour companies. You’ll learn a bit of city and architectural history and take in a whole lotta gorgeous views cruising Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. From finding the best seat for Navy Pier’s weekly fireworks to cruises that let you bring your pup, scroll through and start planning.

Boats

Tall Ship Windy

Navigate Chicago's waterways and feel the spirit of centuries past in a 75-minute authentic tall ship sail. Select from Skyline and Architectural, Lake Michigan Maritime Stories or Pirates and Ghosts themes. Tall Ship Windy is a great post for viewing Navy Pier's weekly fireworks and the annual Chicago Air & Water Show in August. 

Online: tallshipwindy.com

Chicago Fireboat Tour

Ray Novak and Erich Totsch, Navy veterans and licensed Captains, invite you to cruise on a piece of Chicago history. The Fred A. Busse was the largest diesel-powered Fireboat in the world and served the Chicago Fire Department from 1937–1981. It was built to fit underneath Chicago’s bridges, minimizing response times for emergencies and helping ease congestion in a booming city. Upon her retirement, she was converted into a passenger vessel and operated tours in Sturgeon Bay, WI for almost 30 years. Her new owners renovated the retired fireboat and she is now cruising the Chicago waterways once again!

Online: fireboattours.com

Chicago Architecture Center's First Lady

Chicago Architecture Center has been running its very popular 90-minute cruise aboard The First Lady for over 25 years. Their expertly trained docent volunteers share fascinating stories behind more than 50 buildings and educate on how Chicago grew from a small settlement into one of the world's largest cities in less than 100 years. 

Online: architecture.org

Seadog Cruises

It’s fast and furious aboard the Seadog, which jets off from Navy Pier, speeds along the lakefront, then zips down the Chicago River. The fast-paced excitement makes it the most kid-friendly architectural cruise of all. Little ones love this bright red and yellow speedboat, which usually has dogs on board (bring your pet along!) and funny guides. Parents appreciate learning about Chicago’s most famous riverfront buildings while kids love the thrill.

Online: seadogcruises.com

Shoreline Sightseeing Tours

Shoreline has deep roots in Chicago, now three generations in! With 11 major touring vessels (and their 8 water taxis) they run architectural river tours that give highlights and history of Chicago's buildings and Lake Michigan tours that show off our beautiful skyline. You can grab a Shoreline cruise from Michigan Avenue Bridge, Navy Pier's Polk Bros Park and Lake tours from Navy Pier. 

Online: shorelinesightseeing.com

Wendella Boats

Wendella is the OG in Chicago architectural boat tours, in operation since 1935. Learn about 130 years of architectural innovation and the world-renowned architecture from one of their expert guides. Make it extra special by booking a sunset cruise and toast the end of the day as the sun sets on Chicago. 

Online: wendellaboats.com

Mercury Cruises

Running continuously for 85 years, Mercury is expert at showing the city's highlights in its 90-minute sightseeing adventure. They host 3D Fireworks Cruises that add excitement with the addition of 3D glasses and the Canine Cruise allows your pup to feel the wind in their fur. 

Online: mercurycruises.com

KAYAKS

Kayak Chicago

If you’re looking for a truly unique perspective of Chicago, hop into a single or double kayak and paddle your way along the river with an expert guide. Kayak Chicago offers rentals, as well as guided tours and individual and group instruction. Kids of all ages are welcome to ride along with an adult, but they need to be at least 12 to paddle a kayak on their own. On the guided architectural tour, you’ll circle the loop, glide past where the first settlers to Chicago set up a home base and discover the location of a former Capone-era hideout.

Online: kayakchicago.com

Urban Kayak

Two brothers and a lifelong friend who are native Chicagoans and self-proclaimed avid adventurers set out to showcase their hometown in a unique way. Their kayak tours will leave you with a newfound love for Chicago and if it awakens an adventurous beast in you, you can purchase a membership to visit again and again. They also offer kayak classes for kids ages 10-16 all summer long. 

Online: urbankayaks.com

TAXI

Shoreline Water Taxi

Shoreline Water Taxis are a cheap, convenient and fun mode of city transport. Travel via the Chicago River to Chinatown, Navy Pier the Museum Campus, Willis Tower, Michigan Avenue and Union Station while feeling the wind whipping through your hair. Shoreline Water Taxi service begins in April and runs through September, with additional service throughout the fall and for special events.

Online: shorelinesightseeing.com

DIY

Chicago Electric Boat

Chicago Electric Boat Company is Chicago's largest self-guided river boat rental operator. Their fleet includes eco-friendly private electric boats that create opportunities to explore our world-famous waterfront from a unique eye-level vantage point.

Renters will find five boat types: all-weather Duffy Boats with fully covered seating areas, Pontoon Boats with adjustable canopies, partially covered Donut Boats that offer 360-degree views of the city, a Vintage Yacht and refurbished 1950s-style Retro Boats for when you want to feel like a movie star.

Online: chicagoelectricboats.com

— Maria Chambers

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Breakfast is the most important meal of the day but we often run out of breakfast ideas and there’s no sweeter way to start off the day than with a donut! We’ve done the work for you and scouted the best donut shops in the Bay Area (a tough job that we’re happy to do). From classic flavors to wacky combinations, gigantic sizes to minis, there will be something on the menu for adventurous adults to safe-betting kids.

San Francisco

A girl bites into a giant chocolate sprinkle donut
Ciara Lene

Bob’s Donuts Ι Nob Hill 

This San Francisco staple serves up classic flavors and familiar bites satisfying donut cravings at either their Polk St store (open 24/7) or their new Baker St location.If you want to see the eyes of your kiddos light up in wonder, order the novelty gigantic donut which comes in a handful of flavors such as glazed, crumbles and chocolate. It’s bigger than an adult head and if you eat the entire donut in under two minutes Bob’s Donut will give it to you for free and will list your name on their Hall of Fame page.

Twisted Donuts Ι Outer Sunset 

Husband and wife team Joyce and Paul decided to bring their love of donuts straight to the outer sunset neighborhood. Traditional donuts are served during the week but the flavors take on a new, fun and nutty twist on the weekends with PB&J, Nutty Monkey and Milky Way Under A Salt! 

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Trish's Mini Donuts

For an extra special outing, head to Pier 39 to see the wharf and grab a bucket of mini donuts sprinkled with sugar for you and the kids to share. As an added bonus, when the donuts are eaten up you can use the bucket as a sand toy. Win-win kids!

A pair of hands prepares to eat a Dynamo donut
Dynamo Donut

Dynamo Donut & Coffee

If your kids have fancy palettes and a taste for adventure, check out Dynamo Donut & Coffee. With flavors like Chocolate Rose, Passionfruit Milk Chocolate and Bitter Queen, your taste buds will be popping as will your blood sugar levels. Also, check out their kiosk in the Marina on the SF Bay Trail if trekking to the Mission isn’t an option.

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Mochill Mochidonut Ι Japantown, Oakland, San Jose and Santa Clara

You definitely don't want to leave this one off your list of the best donuts in the Bay Area. Mochill Mochidonut serves up the most gorgeously-delicious mochi donuts in the land. If you haven't tried one yet, they are so crunchy and light, you'll definitely have room for more than one. Kids crave the fruity pebbles while adults opt for refined flavors like matcha. 

East Bay

Rainbow Donuts Ι Berkeley 
Donuts and croissants are made constantly throughout the day which means Rainbow Donuts serves up some of the freshest donuts in town. The wildly popular unicorn donut is a crowd favorite for kids and adults alike and their savory breakfast sandwiches are also delicious! 

Kingpin Donuts Ι Berkeley 
This donut shop has been around since the 1930s so it’s safe to say they’re doing something right. With classic flavors made the way grandma used to make donuts, this is a no-frills and yummy donut stop in the East Bay. 

A glazed chocolate donut with a donut hole on top
Donut Savant

Donut Savant Ι Oakland

Do you ever walk into a donut shop and think you’d really love to take a bite of all of the flavors? Well, now you can! Donut Savant keeps the menu tiny—referring to the size of the donut only. With an entire menu of donut holes and minis you’ll be able to indulge in all your favorite flavors. What kid doesn’t love variety?

Donut Farm Ι Oakland

If organic vegan donuts are what you crave, this is the spot for you. Donut Farm has been serving up this delicious treat to Oaklanders for over 15 years and we know you'll love it. Try the Mexican hot chocolate, blueberry or a straight-up plain—you won't be disappointed. 

Also serving at The Ferry Building on Tues., Thurs.-Sun. 

Bun Appetit Donuts Ι Fremont 
Its not uncommon to find a line out the door because this donut spot is so hot but we promise it will be well worth the wait! The famed Everything donut filled with cream cheese sells out regularly so consider yourself lucky if you can get your hands on one. Verve coffee is also served here along with savory sandwiches and avocado toast. 

Peninsula/South Bay

MoDo Hawaii | Santa Clara

Just opened, this spot offers mochi donuts and you're going to love them. Pre-order from their website to skip the line before you head over as they offer five weekly flavors (currently black sesame, churro, cookies & cream, matcha, pandan, milk chocolate and lilikoi) with two daily specials. Complete your sugar rush with a black sesame or ube soy latte for a super charged morning to run after the kids! 

Royal Donuts Cafe | Burlingame
Don't let the unassuming outside fool you—this neighborhood gem is a favorite with locals. Whether you're in the mood for bacon and pancakes or a chorizo burrito and half a dozen glazed donuts, Royal Donuts cafe has your family covered. 

Psycho Donuts Ι Campbell

Self-proclaimed as the Bay Area’s wackiest donut shop, they serve up a menu of unconventional flavors that are too good to be true. Kids will be left speechless with flavors such as “Cereal Killer,” a glazed donut topped with fruity cereal flakes—a customer favorite; “Fung Shui,” a donut with green tea icing, chocolate chips and a vanilla drizzle; or “Nutter Cup,” a donut with Nutella icing and peanut butter and Butterfinger dust.

Happy Donuts Ι San Jose

Another mom and pop donut shop, this San Jose spot is a favorite for those who like their donuts classic. The friendly owners pride themselves in remembering customers' favorite orders. You'll always feel welcomed when you visit. Pro tip: don't skip out on the cinnamon rolls. 

Strawberry, vanilla and chocolate donuts

Stan's Donuts Ι Santa Clara

Anyone who considers themselves a donut lover will love Stan's! Old-school donuts are where it's at when you head to Stan's Donuts as they've been in business since 1959. Stan and Tina Wittmayer and their nine children started this donut shop and it has remained within the family since. Kids love sitting at the counter with their long john and watching as they make the donuts and dunk them in glaze. 

Marin

A boy stands at the counter for Johnny Donuts
Johnny Donuts

Johnny Donuts

Don’t be surprised after your first visit if your kids start requesting Johnny Doughnuts in lieu of a birthday cake. Or heck, that goes for mom and dad, too! These donuts are lip smacking good and are made with local ingredients. Classic donuts with a twist, like the Orange Your Glad donut, or the homemade jam and custards that are filled into fluffy fried bread, will have your kids asking for more.

North Bay Location
1617 4th St.
San Rafael, CA 

Marin Country Mart
2257 Larkspur Landing Circle
Larkspur, CA

San Francisco (Hayes Valley) Location
388 Fulton St.
San Francisco, CA 

Donut Alley Ι Larkspur 

The kids will flip for this spot's signature donut, the foot-shaped long john (it's quite tasty once you get past the foot factor). Other favorites include the sugar-covered donut holes and the big donut that is 10 inches across and makes the perfect birthday donut. 

Flour Craft Bakery Ι Mill Valley & San Anselmo

This 100% gluten free cafe bakery is super popular even among those without dietary restrictions because owner Heather Hardcastle uses techniques she learned at the Culinary Institute of America to master gluten-free breads, cookies, donuts and treats. Come for the donut and pick up lunch! 

Everywhere

Whole Foods

Tarah Beaven

Whole Foods has a sugary secret, they have some of the best vegan donuts in the Bay Area! If foraging a trip to a specialty donut shop isn’t in the cards and tummies are growling, head to the nearest Whole Foods for a special treat. Your hungry gremlins will be none the wiser with vegan choices such as maple glazed, chocolate, crumble and more.

Locations: Everywhere
Online: wholefoodsmarket.com

 

—Christine Lai, Kate Loweth & Tarah Beaven

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After many years of struggling to get pregnant and the tedious, stressful saga of going through IVF (four years of it), my partner and I were incredibly lucky our last viable embryo hit positive. Hooray!

On that day, though, a new challenge began: How do I stay healthy to maximize my chances of having a healthy baby? Having had so many appointments during IVF, I was surprised to have so few appointments during pregnancy. In the beginning, doctor’s visits were just once a month or so; check-ins only became more frequent in the last few weeks. In between, I often felt on my own, breaking new personal ground as I experienced the various phases. I constantly asked myself, “Am I doing enough?” “Is my body keeping up with all the changes happening inside?” So many questions flooded my hormonally saturated neurons.

Pregnant people frequently experience constipation, sleeplessness, lack of motivation, emotional volatility and exhaustion. Unfortunately, I had all of these, and I was not thrilled about taking medication to alleviate the issues.

Because of my background (I have a Ph.D. in biochemistry and am the co-founder and CEO of a company called Ixcela, which develops tests and programs to improve the health of the gut microbiome), I knew that a lot of these symptoms could be caused by poor gut health and/or nutritional deficiencies and that I could take action against them.

One major issue tends to be a lack of protein. According to the American Pregnancy Association, pregnant women should consume between 75-100 grams per day or about 25% of their daily caloric intake. Many think they are getting enough—from a handful of almonds or a small serving of eggs—when they really aren’t. (Sorry, friends. Protein, NOT carbs. That means doubling up on Häagen-Dazs won’t solve the problem.)

Protein is important because it contains two critical amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) that the body needs, especially during pregnancy. The first is tryptophan. Since your body can’t make tryptophan, it must be digested through various types of food (meats, cheeses, fish, beans, etc.)—basically anything with protein in it. The bacteria in your intestines (a.k.a. your gut microbiome) take the tryptophan you eat and convert it into many other things, including serotonin. Serotonin is important for your mental health/sanity and happiness as well as gut motility—yes, your tushy’s ability to comfortably bond with your toilet bowl. Going one step further, your body takes serotonin and converts it into melatonin, which is critical for good sleep.

The second amino acid is tyrosine, which is found in seeds, edamame, cheese, fish, lentils and yogurt. The bacteria in the intestine (the gut microbiome again) convert it into important molecules, such as adrenaline (the molecule that helps you have the initiative to do stressful things) and dopamine (the “feel-good” molecule).

You might see where I’m heading with this: Not enough tryptophan in your diet = not enough serotonin and melatonin = feelings of emotional distress, constipation and bad sleep. Not enough tyrosine in your diet = lack of motivation and feelings of depression.

Take a step back and think about it. When you are pregnant, you are building a little person, and that human being requires extra protein. If, however, you are not getting enough, the baby continues to be built, which depletes your load of tryptophan and tyrosine and leads to the adverse effects and feelings mentioned above. Booo.

How Do You Know Whether You’re Getting Enough Protein in Your Diet?

If you’re feeling sluggish, constipated and lacking motivation, you may have an unhealthy microbiome or be short on protein. You can slowly increase your daily intake to see if it improves your mood and bowel movements.

But, for me, following general guidelines wasn’t enough—and my symptoms proved that something larger may be amiss. I wanted to truly know what my body needed not just to handle the pregnancy, but also to provide the best environment for my baby. And as a student of science and a self-proclaimed super dork, I am a believer in measurement. If you can measure it, you can manage it!

Instead of guessing about what’s happening in your body, wouldn’t it be great to do a test to see what is actually happening? After all, pregnancy drastically changes your body—how you utilize nutrients, what appears in your blood work and your hormone levels. If you want to optimize its functioning, it’s best to know your baseline. The good news? You can test your protein levels and the health of your gut through a simple pin-prick blood test to determine whether or not you’re getting the nutrients you need in your diet—all conveniently at home.

And if you’re wondering, “How do I know if the bacteria in my gut can take the protein I’m eating and effectively turn it into these other molecules that are important for my (and my baby’s) well-being?” This can also be answered with the same test. It will show if your gut microbiome is healthy enough to convert your protein into other molecules effectively, and if it’s not, make recommendations to adjust your diet to maximize your body’s function.

Throughout my pregnancy, I religiously tested myself every three months and followed the dietary and lifestyle recommendations based on the results. I was able to move the needle on protein levels, which significantly helped my quality of sleep, kept me afloat emotionally during the hormonal roller coaster and helped ease my perpetual constipation. The changes I implemented took a few weeks to kick in (the microbiome takes around three-to-four weeks to change), but pregnancy is a nine-month process, so it’s worth the effort on the front end.

Pregnancy is tough on your mind and body, and there will be times when you have to muscle your way through. But some of these simple things can really make you just a bit more comfortable. Remember: Having a good microbiome will help with guts, butts and not going nuts.

Photo: Erika Angle

Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle is the CEO and co-founder of Ixcela. She received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Boston University School of Medicine and holds a B.S. in chemistry from MIT. Erika also founded Science from Scientists, a nonprofit focused on improving STEM attitudes and aptitudes for children aged 9-13.

One of our editors, Kate Loweth, took Microsoft Edge, a browser loaded with built-in shopping tools, for a test run for her holiday shopping. Here’s what she found:

The holidays are expensive. There, I said it. As a mom with three kids in the tween and teen years, I know full well that it’s no longer about the number of toys under the tree but instead, it has morphed into them asking for high-priced electronics and gift cards.

Saving is at the top of my list this year as I’m not about to spend my whole paycheck to put loot under the tree. Lucky for me, Microsoft Edge gifted me $250 to try out their browser with my shopping. Here’s the 411 on how this browser seamlessly assisted with my holiday shopping and helped me save along the way. Trust me, you’ll want to make it part of your shopping routine all year long!

 P.S. Enter for your own chance to win $250 for your holiday shopping at the bottom of this article!

The Shopping Features Are There as Soon as You Download the Browser

Shopping via the Microsoft Edge browser is super easy and you know what you are buying is the best deal out there. I was looking for a Fitbit for my 10-year-old and was checking out options that were available at Target. When I navigated to the page for the Fitbit Ace 3, the price comparison feature showed me that there was a lower price available on another website. Turns out the savings was only 4 cents on eBay so I stuck with Target for my purchase. I was happy to know that no major discount was out there and I was getting it at a reasonable price. Gone are the days when you have to shop around to find the lowest price.

Am I Getting a Good Deal? Yes

Next up on my shopping list was Just Dance 2022 for the Nintendo Switch. Target had this at $49.99 but Microsoft Edge let me know that it was available for $29.83 on Amazon. Score! When I navigated over to Amazon to make my purchase, Microsoft Edge showed me that this price was pretty stable over the last 6 months and I was getting a good deal. Go me! Knowing the historical pricing data without having to check another website is a handy feature.

Original Price Price: $49.99

Price with Microsoft Edge: $29.83

Savings: $20.16

 

Expert-Approved

Making a big purchase? Reviews can offer insight into what is the best option for your needs. Microsoft Edge captures ratings and reviews from multiple sources and brings them to you without you having to navigate away from the item you are considering. Click, check out the review and feel comfortable with your order. It’s that easy.

It Finds the Deals for You

As a self-proclaimed coupon addict, I am well versed in the couponing world. I know all the websites to go to that gather up coupon codes. Microsoft Edge makes this whole process so much easier as it scours the web for all available coupons for you while you shop. Since it’s built in, you don’t have to add any connections.

My husband needs a new carry-on suitcase so I checked out Amazon for options. I found this one and Microsoft Edge told me there was a $10 coupon. Score! Clip and save.

Regular Price: $89.99

Price with Microsoft Edge: $79.99

Savings: $10

Checkout Is a Breeze

Last on my list was a “cozy but stylish” jacket for my 12-year-old son who wears almost the same size that I do (when did THAT happen?). I found this bomber jacket with a sherpa lining at Target that checked both boxes and was every tween’s favorite color, black. Because I had set up Microsoft Edge with all my shipping details the last time I shopped, it was ready to autofill when I checked out.

Savings: My time!

The real truth: Microsoft Edge makes shopping so much easier, which is key during this time when orders are being placed at lightning speed. I know that I’m getting the best deal for my purchases and the whole process is a breeze.

 

The days are getting shorter; you’re dreaming about the chilly temps of fall, and best of all, it’s nearly time to celebrate the best that autumn brings. We’ve brushed off our list of the best fall festivals in the country, and this year you’ll find everything from the Leavenworth Oktoberfest to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival—basically, the ultimate list of festivals you should visit at least once with the kids.

**Editor’s note: COVID safety precautions vary from event to event. Please check the websites for updated information. 

Balloon Fiesta – Alburquerque, NM

Raychel Sanner via Unsplash

Balloon pilots from all over the county fly in to be a part of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. As the largest ballooning event in the world, it features over 500 hot air balloons. Adding to the fun will be special balloon glows, a special shape rodeo, laser light shows, chainsaw carvings, fireworks, a car show and plenty of musical entertainment.

Dates: October 2-10, 2021.

Online: balloonfiesta.com

The Maryland Renaissance Festival - Crownsville, MD

Maryland Renaissance Festival
Maryland Renaissance Festival

Revel Grove is your “passport to merriment” say the folks at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Here you’ll experience events and shows that you won’t see anywhere else: jousting competitions, jugglers, artisans performing works of Shakesphere in just 20 minutes, mimes, dancers and more. Feast on such delights as Macaroni and Cheese on a Stick, Beef Fingers with White Peppered Gravy and Steak on a Stake. If you want to get in on the act, costume rentals are available.

Dates: Aug. 28 - Oct. 24th, 2021 (weekends and Labor Day Monday)

Online: rennfest.com/

Pumpkin Festival – Stone Mountain, GA

Stone Mountain

Come to Stone Mountain Park at night to experience special not-so-spooky glow-in-the-dark fun. “Play by Day” enjoying the regular attractions and special fall entertainment. Stick around after dark to “Glow by Night” by taking a journey through classic storybook tales that come to life in 10 themed areas featuring 40 scenes with glowing lights, massive carved pumpkins, bubbles, fog and more. New in 2021 is the party parade! 

Dates: Sept. 18 – Oct. 31, 2021

Online: stonemountainpark.com/Events/Pumpkin-Festival

Autumn at the Arboretum - Dallas, TX

Dallas Arboretum

The famous Pumpkin Village (featuring 90,000 pumpkins, squash and gourds) is in a new location this year, just beyond the Johnsson color garden! You'll find larger-than-life insect topiaries, bugged-out pumpkin houses and a maze that'll thrill the youngest of visitors. 

Dates: Sept. 18 - Oct. 31, 2021

Online: dallasarboretum.org/autumn-at-the-arboretum

Linde Oktoberfest - Tulsa, OK

Tulsa Oktoberfest Facebook Page

Willkommen! You won't want to miss one of the largest Oktoberfests in the country and this year, it celebrates 42 years of fun. Held at River West Festival Park, this event brings together international German bands, Bavarian delicacies, authentic arts and crafts as well as games and competitions for the entire family. Don't miss the Dachshund Dash and the Costume Parade!

Dates: Oct. 21-24, 2021

Online: tulsaoktobegttorfest.org

Salmon Days - Issaquah, WA

Hideki Saito

The Salmon Days Festival is 52 years in the making, and this year's theme is "Keep on Swimming." This annual event is a celebration of the return of salmon to their “birth-waters” as well as Issaquah’s history, culture and diversity. Each year the festival attracts over 200 artists and craftsmen, live music and entertainment, sporting events and even a section of virtual events

Dates: Oct. 2-3, 2021

Online: issaquahchamber.com/salmondays

Circleville Pumpkin Show - Circleview, OH

Jack Mader via Circleville Pumpkin Show website

Since 1903, the Circleville Pumpkin Show has seen people come from miles around to see the largest pumpkins on display (In 2014, a 1,964-pound pumpkin was here. It's tough to beat that one!). You'll also find the largest pumpkin pie, various parades featuring over 40 floats and over 50 bands, live entertainment, the chance to partake in the pumpkin toss and enjoy many pumpkin spice-flavored treats.

Dates: Oct. 20-23, 2021

Online: pumpkinshow.com

North Carolina Pecan Harvest Festival - Whiteville, NC

NC Pecan Harvest Festival Facebook Page

The Annual North Carolina Pecan Harvest Festival features the Pecan Run, the Columbus Cooks pecan cooking competition (with a focus on young cooks), the festival parade, live entertainment, the Tri Beach Cruisers car show, a lot of craft vendors, an art show, an antique tractor show, of course, pecans galore!

Date: Nov. 5-6, 2021

Online: ncpecanfestival.com

West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta - Tualatin, OR

West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta

If you’ve never seen anyone sit inside a giant pumpkin and then race it across a lake dressed in costume, then you obviously haven’t been to the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta. This free, one-day festival is jam-packed with fun, including the weigh-off of the giant pumpkins and other monster-sized vegetables; performances by magicians, clowns and musical acts; a costume contest; a pumpkin pie eating contest; pumpkin bowling and pumpkin golf; food trucks and the giant pumpkin race.

Date: Oct. 16, 2021

Online: tualatinoregon.gov/pumpkinregatta

Tecumseh Appleupmpkin Festival - Tecumseh, MI

GirlonTractor-Frying Pan Park Farm via Jennifer Massoni Pardini
Jennifer Massoni Pardin

The 27th annual Appleupmpkin Festival is held in conjunction with Kapnick Orchards Apple Festival, so you get two festivals in one! Not only will you find midway rides, carnival games, bounce houses and craft stations, you’ll also be treated to a tractor show, a straw maze, helicopter and monster truck rides, an entire scarecrow-making tent and more. There’s also an antique street fair and flea market, and an arts and crafts show if you want to get a little shopping in. 

Dates: Oct. 9-10, 2021

Online: downtowntecumseh.com/appleumpkinfestival

 

Dios de los Muertos on Olvera Street - Los Angeles, CA

Scott Hess via Flickr

Olvera Street is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Los Angeles and for good reason. From the legendary Mexican marketplace to the historic buildings, it's a wonderful place to immerse yourself in another culture. Every year they have a Dios de los Muertos celebration that starts with a traditional procession that includes Aztec dancers and a parade of "Living Muertos," where people dress up like skeletons and don colorful costumes. There's also a chance to have your face painted up to look like a Calavera! 

Dates: Oct. 25-Nov. 2, 2021

Online: discoverolverastreet.com/diadelosmuertos

Oktoberfest Markt– Leavenworth, WA

Leavenworth Oktoberfest
Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce

The festivities at this famous fall event will look a little different in 2021, but there is still fun to be had. The traditional Oktoberfest celebration won't happen, but there will be a huge focus on local businesses and artisans, creating more of a Harvest Fest vibe. There will be over 100 vendors over the three weekends, you'll still be able to eat all your favorite Oktoberfest foods and of course, the Kinderplatz kiddie area will still be open!

Dates: Oct. 1-3, 8-10 and 15-17, 2021

Online: leavenworthoktoberfest.com

 

Trailing of the Sheep - Ketchum, ID

Courtesy Trailing of the Sheep

Following a flock of sheep may sound like something out of a nursery rhyme, but did you know it’s also one of the most beloved fall festivals in the United States? Celebrate the history of sheep ranchers in Idaho at this five-day event filled with non-stop fun: multicultural performers, storytelling, cooking classes, sheepdog trials, folklife fair, weaving demos and over 50 local artisans selling crafts and art. The spotlight event (of course) is the Big Sheep Parade, where you and your family will view the spectacle of over 1,500 sheep wandering down Main Street in Ketchum.

Good to know: The Parade Picnic at Irving’s Hill is a great spot to enjoy local fare and watch the sheep make their annual trek.

Dates: Oct. 6-10, 2021

Online: trailingofthesheep.org

Stillwater Harvest Festival and Pumpkin Weigh-Off - Stillwater, MN

iStock

This bucolic little town on the shore of the St. Croix River not only gets a ton of gorgeous fall color this time of year, but it also hosts one of the best fall festivals around. Kids can come in costume and join in the Costume Parade which takes the children trick-or-treating to all the local downtown businesses. There's a chili cook-off and microbrew tasting, craft and food vendors and a ton of pumpkin-themed activities. Cheer on local businesses as they compete in the Pumpkin Pull (imagine being hooked up like an ox to haul giant pumpkins) and the Pumpkin Regatta—a race up the St. Croix in giant hollowed-out pumpkins for boats. 

Good to know: Locals know to stick around 'til the end of the fest for the giant pumpkin drop: prize-winning pumpkins are hoisted on a crane and dropped to the sidewalk below. You can scramble in and get your share of giant pumpkin seeds for your own garden! 

Dates: Oct. 9-10, 2021

Online: harvestfestivalstillwater.com

Glastonbury Applefest - Glastonbury, CT

egrodziak via flickr

It's one of the state’s most popular festivals for a good reason: the Angry Orchard 5K, tons of amusement rides, a pie bake-off and pie-eating contest, a petting zoo, road races, a beer garden and pony rides. Literally, something for everyone.

Dates: Oct. 15-17, 2021

Online: glastonburychamber.net

Fall for Greenville – Greenville, SC

Fall for Greenville

This three-day smorgasbord of food and entertainment will feature over 50 local restaurants and musical acts performing on six stages. It’s kind of a big deal. Here you can sample wines, learn about local beers and watch some great chefs showing off their skills. Admission is free, and you can get a sheet of 10 “taste tickets” for just $5. Be sure to take the kids to the T-Mobile Kids’ Area too to try out the Wacky Slide, swings and to visit Toddler Town.

Dates: Oct. 8-10, 2021

Online: fallforgreenville.net

Scarecrow Festival - St. Charles, IL

Gorkić Taradi via Unsplash

Over 100 hand-crafted scarecrows show up at the Scarecrow Festival in downtown St. Charles every year, and while some are designed to spook, most are charming for all ages. Visitors have a hand in the awards (vote-as-you-view in five categories), and after voting, there's enough family-friendly entertainment to last an entire weekend. Now in its 36th year, there's more than just scarecrows to admire. There's a family zone, the scarecrow stroll, live music, a professional pumpkin carver and of course, the popular scarecrow in a box. 

Dates: Oct. 8-10, 2021

Online: scarecrowfest.com

 

Pumpkin Nights - Austin, TX

Pioneer Farms will glow with Jack-o’-lantern grins for a whole month! At Pumpkin Nights, you will venture along a half-mile walking path, where you’ll discover the Forbidden Pumpkin City, a pirate’s cove, and more fantastical lands built using over 3,000 hand-carved real and artificial pumpkins. The celebration continues with entertainment and games in Pumpkin Central, the festival area. There’s also food, beverages, screenings of A Nightmare Before Christmas and other activities for the whole family.

Dates: Sept. 30 - Oct. 31, 2021

Online: pumpkinnights.com/austin

The National Apple Harvest Festival - Adams County, PA

Pexels via Pixabay

Apples are a fave fall, and southern Pennsylvania has been celebrating since 1962. At this two-weekend event, you’ll find apples cooked up in more ways than you’ll have thought possible: apple cider, applesauce, pies, jellies, pancakes, syrup, candied apples and much more. Work up an appetite at the Kid Country Barn where your tiniest festival fans will enjoy face painting, harvest magic shows, and apple pie-eating contests. There are hayrides, pony rides, Native American dance expos, puppet shows, an antique auto show, over 300 arts and crafts vendors and a ton of family-friendly live music performances.

Good to know: Your money goes to a good cause. All proceeds (after expenses) go back into the community and to other local, state and national charitable organizations.

Dates: Oct. 2-3 and 9-10, 2021

Online: appleharvest.com

Hood River Harvest Fest - Hood River, OR

courtesy Hood River Area Chamber of Commerce

There are 14,000 acres of commercial pear, apple, cherry and peach orchards in Hood River County, so it’s no surprise the biggest fall festival in the Columbia River Gorge happens here. For three days in October, attendees enjoy a giant pumpkin carving contest, live music, a fruit pie-eating contest, family activities, seasonal produce, food, wine, cider, beer and local arts & crafts from nearly 120 vendors on the scenic Hood River waterfront. Kids will love the activity area, complete with bouncy houses, face painting and other activities. 

Dates: Oct. 15-17, 2021

Online: hoodriver.org/harvest-fest

Warrens Cranberry Festival - Warrens, WI

courtesy Warrens Cranberry Festival

Looking for the world’s largest cranberry festival? You’ll find it in Warrens, WI—over 120,000 people show up each year. Wander through 850 arts & craft booths and enjoy contests like Guess the Weight of the Largest Pumpkin, Best Scarecrow, Biggest Berry, Marsh Medallion Hunt and more. Tasty eats are everywhere and include unusual offerings like cranberry cream puffs and deep-fried cranberries on a stick. One of the coolest things to do at the festival is to take a tour of the cranberry marshes. You’ll visit two local marshes, walk into a cranberry bed, and learn all about the growing process. Local eats including fresh cranberries, wine and other products can be bought at the end of the tour! 

Dates: Sept. 24-26, 2021

Online: cranfest.com

Santa Fe Harvest Festival - Santa Fe, NM

Larry Lamsa via flickr

The 48th Annual Harvest Festival in Santa Fe is held at El Rancho de las Golondrinas—a living museum similar to Williamsburg, VA—and there are 200 acres to explore. Wander through over 30 buildings, see ponds and waterways, spot animals, and check out agricultural fields that produce traditional crops like corn, squash and peppers. During the Harvest Festival, visitors encounter “villagers” going about their daily routine: crushing grapes, stringing chilies, making tortillas, weaving cloth.  Traditional Southwestern music and dance is also a festival highlight, as well as an artist market with New Mexican crafts, mule-drawn wagon rides, and more. Rated one of the best harvest festivals in the country, families will learn about the rich culture of the Southwest.

Dates: Oct. 2-3, 2021

Online: golondrinas.org/harvest-festival

 

The Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival - Half Moon Bay, CA

The self-proclaimed World Pumpkin Capital gives other harvest festivals a run for their money with the combination of a small seaside community and pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere! This year it's going to be a mini-fest, on one day and scaled-down festivities. You'll still find top crafters and artists from around the country, the 43rd Annual Pumpkin Run, the famous pumpkin weigh-off, a costume contest, a pumpkin carving, a pie-eating contest, and plenty of good food. Be sure to bring cash so you can get a picture with the winning pumpkin! 

Dates: Oct. 16, 2021

Online: pumpkinfest.miramarevents.com

Floresville Peanut Festival - Floresville, TX

courtesy Floresville Peanut Festival

Everything’s bigger in Texas, and when it comes to festival royalty, Queen Tunaep and King Reboog (yup, peanut and goober spelled backward) are no exception—since the late '30s the festival court has donned be-jeweled and be-ribboned gowns and capes that make Queen Elizabeth look like an amateur. But the glamorous get-up of the Bohemian Blooms Court is not the only fun for families in Floresville during the festival. There’s the Goober Games, which is filled with kid faves like sack races, peanut toss, and musical peanut; the parades are worth a watch too.

Dates: Oct. 7-9, 2021

Online: floresvillepeanutfestival.org

Fall Festival of Leaves - Bainbridge, OH

Jake Colvin via Pexels

Fall wouldn’t be the same without the changing of the leaves. The tree-covered hills in southern Ohio are the perfect spot to capture the view, and since 1968, thousands of folks have gathered for three days of fun. There are four skyline drives to take in the beauty of the leaves: Buckskin Loop, Paint Vista Loop, Pike Lake Loop and Redbush Loop. Kids will love both the live pet show and the stuffed animal pet show (with categories such as largest, smallest, most unusual, most lovable), and the kiddy tractor pull. Adults will love the flea market, tribute bands, 5K run and more.

Dates: Oct. 15-17, 2021

Online: fallfestivalofleaves.com

 

The Great Northwest Oktoberfest – Whitefish, MT

The Great Northwest Oktoberfest

This year marks the 11th annual event taking place under the Oktoberfest Bigtop at Smith Fields. If you’re a kid age 12 and under you get in for free; anyone over the age of 12 needs to chip in $7. You’ll be entertained with great German music and a few crazy contests including log sawing, keg throwing, stein holding, and for the kids, a chicken dance-off. Lots of beer, bratwurst, sandwiches and soups too. The kids will especially enjoy the hot dog with mac & cheese plate.

Dates: Sept. 23-25 and Sept. 30, Oct. 1-2, 2021

Online: whitefishoktoberfest.com/

Louisiana Pecan Festival - Colfax, LA

Tony Fischer via flickr

Celebrating the rich agricultural history of pecans (the harvest goes all the way back to pre-colonial times) the Louisiana Pecan Festival has grown from a Frontier Days theme in the early ‘70s to a three-day festival filled with fun for the whole family. The weekend kicks off with Children's Day. There are arts and crafts booths, a cooking contest, carnival rides, great food, musical entertainment, the Grand Parade and a fireworks show on Saturday night is followed by the Street Dance. Be sure to hit up The Country Store, where you can pick up homemade pecan pies, pralines, jams, jellies, local honey and of course, pecans.

Dates: Nov. 5-7, 2021

Online: lapecanfest.com

—Gabby Cullen with Jefferey Totey & Amber Guetebier

Featured image: Gerda via Unsplash

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Crop Hoppin’: The Country’s Greatest Pumpkin Patches

45 Things You Need to Do This Fall

Hallow ‘Hoods: The Coolest Spots in the U.S. for Trick-or-Treating

 

Moms know how to get things done, and that’s especially true for getting their kiddos to eat. When we can’t get our own picky eaters to finish their plate, we can rely on fab mom inventors who have crafted sneaky smoothie blends, gourmet baby food and plant-based kid-friendly foods. Keep scrolling to see some of our fave mom inventors who are ruling the kitchen.

Healthy Guts: Sour Lemon Beverage Co.

Mom to four kids, Callen was finding it hard to get her kids to reap the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar. The traditional taste of the immune boosting drink just wasn't kid-friendly––yet. So in the Spring of 2018 she set out to make a tasty version that was free from artificial ingredients and sugar. After just a few weeks, she finally whipped up a pitcher of ACV lemonade that passed the test! Great for both kids and adults, Sour Lemon Beverage Co.'s ACV concentrates reduce cravings, enhance your body's natural detox process and improve gut health. Made with organic ingredients, there's a flavor for everyone, like Pink Lemonade and Cherry Limeade. 

Online: sourlemonbeverage.com

The Best Butter: Ghee! By Clarified Living

Longtime friends Zein Mangalji, Staci Belew, and Maryl Georgi each come from an entrepreneurial background. The idea for Clarified Living came to Zein one day as she realized she wanted to create as many moments as possible with family, and how her childhood was seasoned with memories that involved her mother's cooking with ghee. So together she set out with her mom, Farida Mangalji, to craft a version with higher quality, consistency and variety. The two found the perfect recipe and started production in Houston. Now the team is busy creating unique flavors that include Jalapeño, Garlic Ghee and Cinnamon/Vanilla Ghee and educating consumers about the health benefits of ghee.

Online: clarifiedliving.com.

Kabrita Goat Milk Foods

Kabrita

Kabrita was founded by moms and is led by a small team, making this goat milk-based line one of our favorite go-tos! Goat milk is naturally easier to digest than cow's milk, has a mild taste, and is rich in crucial nutrients! Kabrita offers baby formula, snacks, and toddler nutrition formula. Curious if Kabrita is right for your family? Try a free sample!

Find Kabrita at kabritausa.com

Me's Way Authentic Vietnamese Chili Sauce

Me's Way

Mẹ’s Way, authentic Huế-style chili sauces are small-batch, carefully crafted and 100% mom-invented. Founder Chau Tonnu, a first-generation Vietnamese America and mom to a 7-year-old daughter herself, created a product from a recipe that has been passed down in her family from three generations of mothers to daughters. Choose from regular or vegetarian.

Order now at meswayllc.com

Nutritious & Delicious: Evergreen Waffles

When Emily Groden's daughter was born in 2018, she wanted to have easy and healthy food options. When she couldn't find a good option for mini waffles on the market, she set out to make her own clean version that contained no refined sugars or preservatives. The Harvard-educated lawyer soon found herself making a huge career change into the waffle business! Evergreen Waffles are made with 100 percent whole wheat and flavored with real fruits, vegetables, nuts and spices. Each Evergreen variety contains 12 ingredients or less and makes for a quick breakfast or snack, anytime during the day.

Online: eatevergreen.com

Nutritious Baby Food Backed by Science: Cerebelly

You know your baby’s developing new skills every moment of every day. Support her growth with nutritious food that is customized to her stage of brain development. Launched in Sept. 2019, Cerebelly does just that. Founded by Dr. Teresa Purzner, neurosurgeon and mom of three, think of Cerebelly as neuroscience meets nutritional science. As baby’s brain develops, it needs specific nutrients to grow and reach its full potential. Cerebelly’s formulas are customized to the baby’s stage of development, and they’re yummy to boot (it was the first food our Editorial Director’s baby actually gobbled down).

Simply tell Cerebelly about your kiddo’s age and what they’re up to, Cerebelly recommends products to fit her stage of development and they deliver the food straight to your door. The organic blends include combos like black bean/sweet potato, carrot/chickpea, sweet potato/mango and white bean/pumpkin/apple. We’re impressed with taste of the food and felt confident we were feeding our baby nutrients he actually needed to grow and thrive. Bonus: Cerebelly recently expanded to Target!

Online: cerebelly.com

Vegan Smoothies: Sweet Nothings

When mom Beth Porter and her seven-year-old daughter went vegan, they struggled to find meals that were packed with nutrients but still tasted good. After experimenting in her kitchen, Porter developed the perfect amount of organic fruits, nuts, and seeds that resulted in frozen ready-to-eat organic spoonable smoothies. Sweet Nothings was born! Now, the delicious cups are available for purchase online, in 1,500 grocery stores across 10 states and include flavors like Strawberry, Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Coffee and Blueberry Beet.

Online: eatsweetnothings.com

Zero Sugar and Healthy: KidsLuv

Ashi Jelinek was at the beach with her three-year-old when she realized that the only options for beverages were packed with sugar. After that day, she set out to create a healthy kids drink that had tons of nutrients and zero sugar. KidsLuv launched in 2017, and now the brand sells their vitamin enhanced beverages that are vegan and contain Vitamins A,B,C and more! Jelinek's products are now sold at over 2,000 locations and at Thrive Market and Amazon.

Online: kidsluv.com

Goodbye Plastic: SuperBee Wax Wraps

Australian mom, Antoinette Jackson grew up with a deep respect for sustainable living and respecting nature on her family's rural farm. After touring the world, she settled with her husband and children in Chiang Mai, a mountainous area of Thailand. To help find per place in the Thai culture and combat the feelings of depression from the loss of a few friends, Jackson founded SuperBee Wax Wraps in 2016. Gleaning the process from her paternal grandmother, the eco-friendly product replaces plastic wrap in the kitchen. It's naturally antibacterial and handmade in Thailand by women in the mountains, providing jobs in the community and a sense of empowerment.

Online: superbee.me

No More Picky Eaters: StickyLickits

As a child, Linda York didn't entertain an interest or love for veggies. It wasn't until she became an adult and mom that she finally started to enjoy them. When she became a grandmother, she saw her grandkids express a waning interest in all things green, and she knew that bribery wasn't the way to help them become adventurous eaters. That's where the idea for "eat-able" stickers came in: using a kids love for stickers as a way to make fruits and veggies exciting. York created StickyLickits, all natural, food-based edible stickers that contain no sugars or dyes. After years of testing, StickyLickits now has their own original characters and licensed Nickelodeon and Sesame Street options, too! Kids just lick, stick to fruits and veggies and eat StickyLickits: healthy eating accomplished!

Online: stickylickits.com

Perfectly Balance Meals: Square Baby

In 2008, Registered Dietician Katie Thomson became a mom. After becoming fed up by what she found for baby food options, she set out to create a better solution for parents. She met her future business partner Kendall Glynn at their children's elementary school where they worked together in volunteer roles at the school over the next few years. They created Square Baby® as a solution to feeding kiddos. Their program offers handmade meals made with whole, organic foods and the Square Meal System,™ which is made up of balanced meals with organic veggies, fruits, whole or sprouted grains, and various protein sources. Parents can rest easy knowing that meals have half the sugar and twice the protein and healthy fats as most pouches. Square Baby is also the fresh baby food company that offers a comprehensive allergen introduction option for each of the Top 8 Allergens.

Online: squarebaby.com

Tiny Organics

As a new mom, Betsy Fore's main goal was making sure her son ate healthier early in life. With a decade of experience as an inventor, product founder and CEO, she and cofounder Sofia Laurell decided that the world needed more healthy, flavorful and textured food options for little eaters and Tiny Organics was born! The company's products helps introduce babies and toddlers to their first 100 flavors that will build adventurous eaters, are all 100 percent organic, fresh-frozen, plant based and built on essential fruits and vegetables.

Website: tinyorganics.com

Ready-to-Eat Meals for the Entire Fam: Nurture Life

When her son started eating solids, Jennifer Chow started making all of his meals from scratch. When he started eating foods beyond the easy-to-make purees, she found she was spending hours making "mini adult meals," like many of her friends. Wanting to avoid fast and frozen foods and provide fresh, nutritious meals Chow and her co-founder Steve created Nurture Life. The company provides freshly made and ready-to-eat meals that are balanced and made from antibiotic-free meats, whole grains and organic produce. Parents can choose from baby, toddler, kid, teen and adult meal options which are then made from scratch, delivered to your door and ready to eat in two minutes or less.

Online: nurturelife.com

Gourmet Dessert Sauces: Somebody's Mother

Lynn Lasher grew up in a home of entrepreneurs so when she lost her job one year, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Founded on the premise that when something is "homemade," it tastes better, Lasher started Somebody's Mother, with her first product inspired by her mom's own chocolate sauce. Now, almost 15 years later, Somebody's Mother sells a variety of dessert sauces, with every lid sharing a quote about mothering or parenting. Lasher says of her business, "I started Somebody’s Mother’s in April 2005 to teach my 3 children how to start a business and, more importantly, how to take matters into their own hands and to assume responsibility for their own financial well being."

Online: somebodysmother.com

Simple Smoothies: Bumpin Blends

As a registered dietitian, Lisa Mastela was overwhelmed by amount of nutritional needs that need to be met while pregnant and how on earth she was going to fit them all in. While a smoothie lover, she found it even more challenging to get all the ingredients she needed safely into the blender (an ER-worthy carrot situation really set things back) while navigating the kitchen with a belly. She set out to "help other soon-to-be mamas meet their baby’s nutritional needs and nurture their pregnancy symptoms in an easy, fast, and delicious way.” Bumpin Blends offers total customization based on your taste preference, dietary restriction and food aversions. In addition, customers have access to a Nutritionist around the clock via text message! Smoothie cubes come in 22 blends that support 22 symptoms, including morning sickness, heartburn and fatigue. 

Online: bumpinblends.com

Cooking School, Cafe & Event Space: Haven's Kitchen

In 2012, Alison Cayne founded Haven's Kitchen, a cooking school, cafe and event space all in one. Mom to five kids, Cayne set out to make cooking at home more fun––and delicious. In 2018, she launched Haven's Kitchen Sauces, globally-inspired sauces with all natural ingredients inspired by recipes from her student's favorite classes. Now the mompreneur's products are available at over 300 locations, including Whole Foods Market.

Online: havenskitchen.com

Plant-Based Meals That Actually Taste Great: Splendid Spoon

Splendid Spoon was founded by Nicole Centeno, a mom who realized how difficult it was to attain a healthy-minded lifestyle with a 9-5 job and demands of family life. With Splendid Spoon, she’s made it her mission to make vegan plant-based meals accessible, nutritious and a daily habit that’ll power your day (no need to reach for that protein bar to get you through the mid-morning hangries) through a food subscription box. All meals come ready-to-eat, which is ideal for families on-the-go or new moms who may not have the energy to even boil water for pasta. Bonus: as of Jan. 2020 all of Splendid Spoon’s packaging is 100% recyclable.

Online: splendidspoon.com

Gourmet Baby Food in an Instant: Bon Petit

Chef Kathy Fang, new mom and two-time CHOPPED champion, just launched Bon Petit, an innovative, freeze-dried, gourmet baby food line designed to provide busy parents a solution to feeding their children healthful, nutritionally rich, balanced meals. If you have ever traveled with a baby, you know what it's like to have to lug around tons of tiny jars of baby food. Bon Petit solves this problem as the baby food comes in freeze-dried packs that are liquid free, shelf stable and TSA compliant. They include whole food-based ingredients with protein, complex carbs, fiber and more. With options like Under the Sardinian Sea which contains Wild Dover Sole, Italian butter bean, oregano, tomato, olive oil and basil, tiny palates will be awakened.

Online: bonpetitbaby.com

Eat Your Veggies for Dessert: Peekaboo Organic Ice Cream

With flavors like mint chocolate chunk, cotton candy and strawberry, you may think that a scoop of Peekaboo Organic Ice Cream is just another sweet treat. But like most moms, founder Jessica Levison had a few tricks up her sleeve when she developed this line of ice cream that features secret spinach, cauliflower, beets and carrots in every bite. As a mom of picky eaters, Jessica knew first-hand what a struggle it was to get kids to eat enough vegetables. She put her ice cream skills to good use as the owner of Miami's Serendipity Creamery and developed this line of ice cream with hidden veggies. Look for it at a grocery store near you!

Online: peekabooicecream.com

Necessity Is the Mother of Invention: Real Food Blends

When Julie Bombacino, an Indiana mom of two, found out that her six-month-old baby boy would need a feeding tube, she didn’t just sit idle. She began researching and discovered quickly that nearly half a million people in the U.S. alone rely on feeding tubes. The tube formulas made her son very sick, and Bombacino knew there had to be a better way. She began to experiment with real foods, pureeing things like carrots, chicken and sweet potatoes, to put in his tube. It wasn’t long before AJ stopped vomiting and began to improve. That’s when Bombacino knew she could not only help her son, but thousands of people like him, and Real Food Blends was born. Designed for people with a feeding tube, Real Food Blends comes in six flavors and each one has just five to eight ingredients. There are no preservatives, corn syrup, dairy, soy or nuts. Not only is it made and manufactured in the U.S., but it is also covered by home health companies and insurance companies.

Online: realfoodblends.com

Eating the Best at Any Age: Harlow's Harvest and FarmBox Direct

Ashley Tyrner, founder of Farmbox Direct, and her 8-year old daughter Harlow, CEO of Harlow’s Harvest, are bringing families together through food. Farmbox Direct is a door-to-door service that brings the freshest vegetables and fruits directly from organic farms. Harlow, a self-proclaimed vegan since she was two years old, wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and pass on what she has learned to bring the same quality product as FarmBox Direct to other kids in the hopes of them taking better control of their nutrition. She founded Harlow’s Harvest with Ashley so that parents and kids can make cooking together fun, interactive and educational. Harlow’s Harvest is a monthly subscription box that comes with recipe cards, a science project, background on the dish your child would be making and an online game they can play that is connected to that month’s theme.

Online: harlowsharvest.com and farmboxdirect.com

Healing from Within: Bonafide Provisions

Bonafide Provisions was founded in 2011 by Sharon Brown, mom and clinical nutritionist who used bone broth to heal her son’s chronic illness. After her son suffered through years of sinus infections, ear infections and respiratory infections that resulted in numerous rounds of antibiotics, Sharon knew there had to be another way to heal him. That's where Bonafide Provisions was born. Sharon started making bone broth in her home and it is now available to purchase online. Bone broth is rich in minerals, collagen, gelatin, amino acids and other nutrients which detoxifies the body and heals the gut and joints. 

Online: bonafideprovisions.com

Farm Fresh Baby Food: Once Upon a Farm

Once Upon a Farm

If you want to feed your baby the best, but time isn't on your side (we hear ya, Mom!), turn to Once Upon a Farm. Their organic, cold-pressed blends are designed to enhance kiddo's nutrition and expand her palate without YOU having to shop, chop, blend and puree. The ingredient list is simple (never anything artificial or processed). In fact, many of the ingredients are sourced from farms the company knows and trusts. If Once Upon a Farm's mission sounds familiar, you might have heard of this beloved brand from Co-Founder and Chief Brand Office, Jennifer Garner. Garner, along with mom Cassandra Curtis, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, are bringing farm fresh baby and kid food to high chairs everywhere. These two moms are making it their mission to become a leader in the organic family food space, fighting for and supporting efforts to drive positive social change and food justice for families. 

Onlineonceuponafarmorganics.com

The Future of Healthy Food: AccelFoods

Lauren Jupiter and Jordan Gaspar started AccelFoods to help smaller innovative food startups make it to mainstream, with a specific mission—insure a healthier future of food. They raised the $40M venture fund in just four years and have helped over 30 brands like Kidfresh (all-natural kids meals with hidden veggies), Rethink Water (kid-friendly flavored boxed water), and Brami (plant-based protein snacks) grow their businesses. Not only are these moms inventors and entrepreneurs, but they’re also helping other moms find success as well.

Check it out at accelfoods.com

Sweet Success: Vermont Nut Free Chocolates

Gail Eldvidge

In 1998, Gail Elvidge co-founded Vermont Nut Free Chocolates after her son was diagnosed with a life-threatening nut allergy. It was difficult for her to find nut-free baking products, chocolates, sweets, and products, so she and her husband Mark started the company to help families like theirs! What started as a small chocolate company in Vermont, has grown to nearly 40 employees, offering products like trail mix, gift baskets, fudge, truffles, baking essentials, hot cocoa, and much more.  The company is proud to offer 100% peanut and tree nut free gourmet chocolates and products for those with or without allergies to enjoy.

Check out their yummy selection at vermontnutfree.com

Superfoods for Everyday Babes: Raised Real

courtesy Raised Real

When Dietician Dr. Michelle Davenport became a first-time mom she wanted to find (and make) easy, simple meals for her new eater that were big on nutrition and hadn’t sat on a shelf for months (or years). So, she co-founded Raised Real, a subscription-based meal service designed specifically for growing babes featuring organic baby food. The company uses superfoods and nutritional expertise to create each recipe—each one integrates fruits, veggies and micronutrients that are crucial for a child’s early development. They are delivered in pre-portioned, ready-to-steam packages that cost less than $5 per meal. You can opt to have meals delivered every two or four weeks, and you can skip or cancel at anytime. 

Online: raisedreal.com

—Kate Loweth, Amber Guetebier, Erin Lem and Karly Wood

All photos provided by companies 

 

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Families are passionate about Seattle pizza–and we understand the obsession! Delicious dough and tasty toppings that warm the tummy and soul. Who can resist? Feed your family’s craving at one of these 11 Seattle-area pizzerias that serve up perfect pies for takeout or delivery.

Proletariat

Chris V. via Yelp

Pick up a delicious pie from Proletariat, the self-proclaimed pizza joint that made White Center famous! Choose specialty pizzas from the menu or create your own with unique toppings like sliced red potatoes, Spam, pineapple, roasted garlic and more. Don’t miss the kids’ appetizer plate with snackable items for the small set. Bonus: Proletariat provides gluten-free and vegan options.

9622-A 16th Ave. S.W.
Seattle, WA 98106
206-432-9765
Online: proletariatpizzaratcity.wordpress.com

Ridge Pizza

Mona N. via Yelp

Family-friendy Ridge Pizza is dedicated to the neighborhood it is named for. Since 2012, Ridge Pizza has been a gathering place for neighbors, Hawks fans, and sports teams, serving up food and community. All pizzas are hand-tossed and made to order with high-quality ingredients. Start with a pesto, olive oil, or marinara base and create your pie to fit your tastes–the sky is the limit! Select one of their signature Charity Case pizzas and Ridge Pizza will make a $1 donation to the designated organization. Both their Phinney Ridge and Northeast locations have unique Charity Cases. Try the Lil’ Dragons–a spicy delight that benefits Greenlake Elemenatry School. Eat yummy pizza and support the kiddos–a win-win!

Phinney
7217 Greenwood Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98103
206-687-7621

Northeast
3338 N.E. 65th St.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-535-6167

Online: ridgepizza.com

Zeeks Pizza

Ash L. via Yelp

With 18 Seattle-area locations, there is a Zeeks in almost every neighborhood! Founded in 1993, Zeeks Pizza pays homage to its local roots with specialty pies including the Puget Pounder, Tree Hugger and Legion of Shroom (go Hawks!). You can also find Collab pizzas on the menu featuring flavor-packed, locally-sourced ingredients from favorite vendors. Build your own pizza with a red sauce or olive oil base or select a more adventurous option like peanut sauce or ranch, and finish it with toppings from their extensive menu. Add a salad (their chop salad is one of the best around) and a side of breadsticks (don’t miss the bacon-pesto flavor combo) and you have an authentic Northwest pizza dinner.

Various Seattle locations
Online: zeekspizza.com

Pizzaiolo Wood Fired Pizza

Christy L. via Yelp

Pizzaiolo has a passion for pizza. Located just outside downtown Kirkland, you’ll discover Italian-inspired pizza with flavors that will transport you directly to Italy (in your mind!). Using organic, quality ingredients in its delicious combinations, Pizzaiolo creates pizza with amazing flavors and freshness that your whole family will enjoy. Choose a house special like the Margherita or create your own. This family-friendly restaurant also serves calzones, salads and delectable desserts.

11836 98th Ave. N.E.
Kirkland, WA 98034
425-820-7722
Online: pizzaiolowoodfiredpizza.com

Brooklyn Bros. Pizzeria

Tom G. via Yelp

Serving authentic New York-style pizza from four Snohomish and Island County locations, Brooklyn Bros. Pizza is the North End’s favorite award-winning pizzeria. Order by the slice, choose an authentic NY pie or create your own thin-crust specialty. If you’re looking for a heartier pie, order a Sicilian-style pizza. This 16-inch square pie has a thick, rustic crust, San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella and your choice of toppings. East Coast style!

Various Seattle-area locations
Online: bbpmenu.com

Razzi's Pizzeria

Sarah B. via Yelp

Allergies or food sensitivities can make eating out stressful, but Razzi’s Pizzeria makes it easy. With four complete menus: traditional, gluten-free, vegan and gluten-free/vegan, Razzis has multiple options for all dietary needs. Over time, Razzi’s has diversified their menu to fill it with delicious pizza options so diners with dietary restrictions can savor the dish without sacrificing flavor. Families can count on ingredients from local, organic markets and find other food options if you want to branch out (think: paninis, pasta and grinders). Bonus: visit their website to find monthly specials and coupons.

Greenwood
8523 Greenwood Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98103
206-782-9005

Downtown
1314 Howell St.
Seattle, WA 98101
206-588-2425

Online: razzispizza.com

Delancey

Roanne C. via Yelp

Support a local pizzeria that supports local ranchers and farmers by eating at Delancey. Delancey’s award-winning pizzas come from high-quality, local and sustainably-raised ingredients and meats. Its full menu of wood-fried pizzas will delight petite pizzaiolos. If you want to spice up your pie, consider adding housemade pork fennel sausage, Zoe’s bacon, pepperoni or salami, La Quercia prosciutto or more veggies. Follow Delancey on Instagram to find their weekly specials.

1415 N.W. 70th St.
Seattle, WA 98117
206-838-1960
Online: delanceyseattle.com

Pagliacci Pizza

Nick M. via Yelp

Pagliacci has served up award-winning pizza in Seattle for over 40 years. The original pizzeria opened on the “Ave” in the U District in 1979, with the sole purpose of sharing great pizza with the community. Now, Pagliacci shares its goodness with pizza lovers at over 20 Seattle-area locations. Choose from seasonal menu items, Pagliacci Favorites or create your own masterpiece with local, seasonal ingredients. Not feeling the pizza vibe? Try their pasta or salads…and don’t forget to save room for dessert. Order whole pies or slices to go. You can see what slices are hot and ready via the Pagliacci app.

Good to know: Pagliacci is committed to protecting the environment and actively seeks innovative ways to use less through composting practices, using green power and saving water and energy. Its goal is to ensure that all food containers and packaging are recyclable or compostable.

Various Seattle-area locations
Online: pagliacci.com

Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria

Damona R. via Yelp

If you’re craving authentic, Italian-inspired wood-fired pizza, head to Tutta Bella–stat! Tutta Bella was the first pizzeria in the Northwest to earn the highly-esteemed Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN) certification that certifies their commitment to high-quality, fresh ingredients and age-old cooking traditions direct from Naples. Its five local pizzerias offer pizza purveyors the ultimate Neapolitan experience. Choose from a selection of red or white pizzas, shareable appetizers and salads. Bonus: They currently offer bottled cocktails to-go for the parental units.

Good to know: For a quick, grab ‘n’ go option, stop by one of their grocery store locations inside QFC (Kirkland Urban and the University District).

Various Seattle-area locations
Online: tuttabella.com

Varlamos Pizzeria

Susan W. via Yelp

If you bleed purple and gold, you’re most likely already a fan of Varlamos Pizzeria and its delicious Italian fare. Family-owned and operated since 1994, this gem is nestled in the heart of the University District and is a go-to destination on game days. Varlamos is known for its football-sized calzones and house specialty pizzas. There is something for everyone on its lengthy menu including salad, pasta, hot sandwiches and appetizers. Bring the gameday experience to the comfort of your own home!

3617 Northeast 45th St.
Seattle, WA 98105
206-522-8515
Online: varlamospizza.com

Farrelli's Pizza

Mya N. via Yelp

Farrelli’s Pizza is the proud recipient of multiple local and national accolades for its food and the warm, welcoming environment it provides guests. Their customer service–and pizza–shine! With 10 South End locations, Farrelli’s menu is filled with winners. Try the award-winning Northwest Traditional, a pie loaded with meats, cheeses and a little zing, finished with a drizzle of honey cream cheese sauce, or select the ever-changing Pizza of the Month, a pie dreamed up by the creative staff. Farrelli’s menu also features fresh salads, pasta entrees, appetizers and desserts. You’ll find something delicious for every appetite here.

Various South Sound locations
Online: farrellispizza.com

Good to know: Restaurants are currently closed for in-person dining due to COVID health guidelines, but these pizza parlors offer takeout or delivery via phone or online ordering. Please check with individual restaurants for the most current information, as things frequently change due to COVID.

—Abbey McGee

Feature photo: email2ying via iStock

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