[Photograph: Serious Eats]
Many of these homemade food-themed Halloween costumes have been played up over the years, and some are a tad lame. But they're all cheap, fairly throw-it-togetherable, and will make other people around you hungry.
Jelly Bellys: Blow up a bunch of multi-colored balloons, but not too huge. Take a dry cleaners bag and cut two leg holes at the top (the hanger side). Step into the bag and fill it with the balloons. Punch out two arm holes and tie the top around your neck with a big bow. (Note: we do not recommend being a deep fried jelly bean.)
Food Mascots:
- Sun Maid Raisin Girl: A bonnet, white blouse, scarf around the neck, and basket full of grapes. (Bonus points for sunshine rays emanating from your body.)
- Morton Salt Girl: Wear a yellow dress (preferably with a huge bow) and hold an umbrella.
- Jolly Green Giant: Green shirt, green leaf-bearing toga, and green headband. Act jolly.
- Chiquita Banana Lady: A woven hat full of fruits piled on top real good, big hoop earrings, and a poofy dress. (Watch this vintage commercial for more inspiration.)
Deviled Egg: Most ladies probably have a devil horns headband and tail lying around from a previous devil costume. Multiply that by a white blob with yellow center—ta-da, everyone's favorite finger food. Get two pieces of white poster board, cut two large ovals (of the same size), and color in a yellow yolk on one. Punch two holes at the top of each egg and string yarn through the holes, connecting them so they sit on your shoulders. Or you can always use a white sheet instead of poster board for the hard-boiled egg part, and cut it into a poncho shape.
Trader Joe or Josephine: Because dressing up as a cashier from any other grocery store just would just not be as exciting. Wear a Hawaiian shirt, lei, and name tag (include your hometown). Watch this unofficial Trader Joe's commercial for more inspiration.
Gummy Worm: Basically just wear one shade on top and one on the bottom for that classic duotone gummy worm look. Squiggle around with awful posture all night.
Fruit Tree: Wear brown pants and a green long sleeve shirt. Pick up some artificial fruits at a crafts store or 99-cent type place and wrap them around your arms and torso haphazardly. For a seasonal look, go with apples.
California Raisin: Take an extra-large black trash bag (if they start making a purple version, opt for that), hold it upside-down and cut a hole towards the top for your face. Put the bag over your body (please do not suffocate) and poke holes for your arms. Wear big sunglasses, white gloves, high-top Converse, and pants of some sort. Toy saxophones are also encouraged.
Top Chef-testant: Wear a white lab coat and try to bring up topics like olive oil-poached halibut and turnip foam as much as possible. Pick from one of this season's Top Chef Las Vegas cheftestants.
