And when it comes to fruits and vegetables, Gariepy notes that, generally, the more color, the healthier.

To replace those sugary soft drinks you've cleared from your fridge, here's a Halloweeny recipe for a punch made with fruit juice and diet soda.

Haunted (Black Cauldron) Punch

WebMD Weight Loss Clinic members: Journal as 1/2 cup fruit juice.

This punch will stain (because of the grape juice), so serve it outside or in a well-protected area.

6 cups 100% grape juice (the dark purple type)
6 cups diet orange soda
6 cups diet ginger ale soda

• Add all ingredients to a large serving punch bowl and stir gently to blend well.
• Add ice or frozen "hands" (made by freezing water inside a new rubber glove) as desired.

Yield: 18 one-cup servings of punch

Per serving: 53 calories, 0.5 g protein, 12.7 g carbohydrate, 0 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 0.1 g fiber, 20 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 1%.

Recipes provided by Elaine Magee; © 2006 Elaine Magee

Published October 27, 2006

©2006 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.