BIDDEFORD — Zombie toes and witches’ brooms were just some of the items on the menu Monday when the McArthur Public Library celebrated national Food Day.

The celebration was a little bit early, as Food Day is officially recognized on Oct. 24, but that didn’t staunch the enthusiasm of children and adults alike who tried healthy, Halloween-themed foods in the library’s children’s room.

This year’s event, according to Food Day organizers, focused on improving children’s diets and teaching them to cook.

The zombie toes were made with carrots, the witches’ brooms from cheese and pretzels, while snap peas masqueraded as zombie mouths.

Other offerings included pumpkin smoothies and applesauce, which children made themselves from locally grown produce.

In addition, Harris Farm donated cream and milk in flavors like chocolate, strawberry and banana, which the children sampled.

“So far, banana is the winner,” said Ashlee Norwood who works in the children’s room, at about 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Children also had the opportunity to make butter by putting cream and a pinch of salt in a jar and shaking it.

The food at the library was “awesome,” said Biddeford sisters Elisa Potter, who attends third grade, Aura Potter, who is in first grade, and sixth-grader Alexia Merrill.

Each tried their hand at making applesauce and then ate a sample of what they created. The girls said the applesauce they made ”“ which was pure apple with no additives, preservatives or sugar ”“ was better than that sold at the store.

They also played a game trying to identify the different vegetables, like parsnips and turnips, that were on display.

The girls’ father, single dad William Potter, said he and his children are frequent visitors to the McArthur.

“The library is like a sanctuary to us,” he said.

The Food Day celebration was a good event, said Potter. His children already eat healthy, he said, but the library program reinforces healthy eating for his and other children, he said.

Food Day is just one of the myriad events the McArthur puts on to attract people to the library, said Deanna Gouzie, the children’s librarian.

Food Day, “a movement for local, healthy, sustainable foods,” is a good event for the library to host, she said, because, “We try to promote healthy eating and exercise. We try to promote a healthy lifestyle.”

This is the second year the library has held a Food Day event, said Gouzie.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.