Trick or Treat
Our holidays always bring along candy and sweet treats which come with lots of sugar, high fructose corn syrup and fat. You can take initiative to change this trend around by including goodies that make great healthy treats and also include Halloween gifts that kids will love.
*Some facts about treats
Did you know that about $1.9 billion of candy is sold each Halloween of which ~$1.2 billion is chocolate= 598 million pounds of candy= 1280 billion calories.
Here are a few Healthy and Fun Alternative Treats to try this year:
- Cheddar flavored cracker
- 100% Fruit snacks or leathers
- Sugar-free gum
- Animal-shaped crackers
- Mini rice cereal treat bars
- Cereal bars made with real fruit
- Individual fruit cups
- Mini 100% fruit juice boxes
- Low-fat pudding cups
- Pretzels
Pass out Other Kinds of Treats
- Jelly bracelets
- Fake teeth or wax fangs
- Jump ropes
- Eye ball bouncy balls
- Temporary tattoos or stickers
- Small containers of modeling clay
- Bubbles
- Erasers, coloring pencils or crayons
- Plastic spider rings
- Small Halloween-themed notebooks
- Noise makers or whistles
Candy defense
- Consider not buying candy
- Don’t open the candy too early
- Establish limits
- Portion control
- Make candy trades by finding things your kids want more and switch out for the candy
- Don't leave candy in plain sight
- Be mindful
- Donate extra candy
- Host a Halloween party
Strategies for hosting a Halloween party
- Focus on more (active) fun, less on food
- Pumpkin carving or painting contest
- Dance/limbo/Thriller dance
- Relay races while “riding” a broom or three-legged zombie races
- Scavenger or treasure hunts
- Host a haunted house
- Spooky charades
- Visit a haunted corn maze
Have a healthy, safe and happy Halloween.
Mayuri Rangdal, MS, RD, LDN
One Counseling and Wellness
309-444-1000
