One of the most exciting holidays in the west, Halloween has become popular in India too. Many restaurants, bars and pubs hold Halloween-themed events and host costume parties. This holiday is an excellent excuse to unwind with some fun ghost-themed foods and have a merry time. Here's an overview of this fun holiday and some Halloween-themed foods to "add life" to your party.

Many countries celebrate Halloween on the 31st of October. The Halloween tradition of dressing up in scary costumes is supposedly influenced by Samhain, an Irish harvest festival, wherein people set bonfires and wear masks to ward off evil spirits. Halloween or All Hallow's Eve is celebrated in Ireland and Scotland for centuries. However, Halloween became popular worldwide when the Irish and Scottish migrants brought their customs to the U.S.

Here's a list of fun foods for your guests to enjoy:

1. Dead velvet cake: The dead velvet cake is a spooky take on the classic red velvet cake. Frost your red velvet cake and pour a layer of red-coloured syrup.

2. Bloody Mary syringes: Fill syringes with Bloody Mary cocktail to create spooky shooters.

3. Poison apples: Candied apples are classic Halloween foods. Coat the apples with black-coloured caramel for an eerie take.

4. Pumpkin pie: Garnishing pumpkin pies with some whipped cream and caramel sauce adds to the scary Halloween atmosphere.

5. Caramel corn: If a scary movie screening is part of your Halloween party, add caramel corn to the menu. You can dust the corn with green food colouring representing the wicked witch of the west.

6. Black margaritas: Upgrade your classic margaritas for an eerie vibe. Rim the glasses with black sanding sugar and add red, blue and green food colours to the alcohol mixture.

7. Pumpkin spice cake: A pumpkin spice cake is another classic Halloween food. It is easy to make – you only need to add pumpkin puree to a spice cake batter.

8. Doughnut hole eyeballs: Dip store-bought holed doughnuts in white chocolate and paint them into eyeballs using edible colours.

9. Halloween devilled eggs: Devilled eggs are amazing party foods and are easy to make. To make them spooky, cut red peppers in the shape of devil horns and stick them on top.

10. Jack-o'-lantern pizza pockets: No Halloween party is complete without jack-o’-lantern-themed party food. Make round pizza pockets and carve a jack-o'-lantern pattern on the top layer.

There's no denying that Halloween parties are entirely fun. This unique festival has fun at its heart, just like every other Indian festival. However, it is easy to go overboard with the scrumptious Halloween food. Most Halloween menus comprise high amounts of carbs, sugars, and lead to high calorie intake. And, as we know, overdoing anything is not good for health. While you let your hair down, ensure you also prepare for Halloween's side effects, including sugar rush and hangovers. Speaking of preparing for your health, you should ensure you always have an active health insurance plan.

Health insurance safeguards you against medical emergencies and protects you financially.