Before you gorge on the candy, Registered Dietitian and Chef Michelle Dudash recommends kicking things off with a Jack O’ Lantern stuffed with chicken and tomato sauce.

1. Select pumpkins that are uniform in size.
This ensures even cooking times.

2. Carve the Jack O’ Lanterns with the right tools.
This means by using the small serrated edge tool that comes in any standard pumpkin carving kit. But first trace the lines for where you’re going to carve, drawing it a big higher than you normally would so that the juices of the filling don’t seep out of the mouth.
Then roast according to directions.

3. Cook the chicken-tomato sauce filling in a sauté pan.
Then fill the cooked pumpkins with the chicken and bake.

Garnish the plate with fresh thyme sprigs.

To learn more, visit www.michelledudash.com.