With Halloween fast approaching, it can be tempting to overload on candy. If you’re hosting any kind of Halloween event this year, or just want to make the experience healthier for you and/or your children, here are some fun healthy Halloween tips worth considering:
Put your jack-o-lantern to good use. When you’re carving your pumpkin, make sure you keep the seeds. They can be washed, dried, drizzled with oil and sea salt and baked or toasted for a delicious and healthy Halloween treat. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, which are heart-friendly and good for healthy skin and cognitive function. They are also high in zinc and vitamin K, which help bone density and strength. Besides these great benefits, they’re also delicious and will make a great alternative to chips or candy when you’re entertaining (or snacking alone) this holiday season!
Opt for healthier, “scream worthy” treats. Hosting a Halloween party doesn’t have to mean buckets of candy! There are several fun snack ideas that will be hits at your Halloween gathering without breaking your calorie or sugar budget. You can peel green grapes and pretend they’re eyeballs, or carve apples into creepy skeleton mouths. Additionally, any long veggie (think carrots and celery) can be made into “fingers”. If you’re REALLY craving sweets, try dipping strawberries into white chocolate and making “ghosts” or even decorating white meringues (a low-calorie treat!) in the Halloween theme. Even better, if you and your children eat healthy treats before trick or treating, you will be less inclined to load up on sweets later!
Use non-edible treats. If you’re used to giving out candy on Halloween, try purchasing small little party favors for neighborhood kids instead. It may seem strange at first, but a non-edible treat is durable and lasts longer, so it will ultimately prove to be more enjoyable and will cut down the amount of sweets available when the holiday is over. Make sure that all non-edible treats are individually wrapped and age appropriate for safety.
Portions! When your kids return with giant pillowcases full of candy, the task of hiding it from them can seem monumental. Instead, try making it into a portions game! Allow them to pick one piece of candy they’d like to eat each night. It will be fun for them to decide which one they want, and the anticipation of picking one will make the reward even sweeter! Also, the candy stash will last longer and may end up saving you money if you normally purchase sweets at the store for your family.
Focus on the fun! Lastly, a way to make Halloween healthier can be to take the focus away from food in general. Get your kids excited for the holiday by making their costume together, or making fun Halloween crafts. Keeping everyone’s hands busy will lower the temptation to eat unhealthy sweets, and the fun crafts can serve as Halloween decorations!
Hopefully these fun ideas will provide you with a way to keep your Halloween healthy!
What are some fun ways that you keep Halloween healthy? Or, do you feel like this is one night to go ahead and splurge? Let us know in the comments.
An Intern Behind the Plate,
~Rachel
[...] every delicious invite to chow down on sweets and treats can be a serious challenge! If you ask me, Halloween and nutrition can be a scary [...]