How to Have a Happy Halloween
Are you sick of Halloween candy? These healthy ideas are great for trick-or-treats and party snacks. These ideas are amazing!
Stop the Candy Craze
They look so cute in their costumes, and they are counting down to October 31st! Are you ready to indulge in the sugar rush? You can have fun with healthy options, no matter if you are trick-or-treating around the neighborhood or throwing a party with your friends.
These tips will make Halloween more enjoyable for you, your guests, and trick-or-treaters.
Trick-or-Treat
Make sure you eat first. Who wants to indulge in their favorite candy as soon as it arrives in their trick-or-treat bag? A healthy meal before trick-or-treating is a good idea. It will reduce the temptation for your children to snack on the go or overindulge.
Bag the monster bag. Encourage children to take only one piece of candy per house so they can visit more houses.
Move. Make Halloween an enjoyable family event. Instead of driving your kids from one house to the next, walk instead. You can set a goal for how many houses you visit or teams of people to compete to see as many as possible. Comfortable shoes are best for walking.
Before you let your children eat, make sure to check expiration dates. Avoid allowing children to eat foods with unknown or questionable ingredients, especially if they are allergic.
Make a plan. Talk with your children about moderation and smart eating habits during Halloween and Eat Smart Month in October. You can plan ahead how much candy they will be allowed to bring to each house, keep, or eat. If they are old enough, they can help you decide what to do about the excess candy.
Check out our suggestions in the article.
Party Host
Increase the terror factor. Healthy snacks can be dressed up with Halloween themes. You can find many creative ideas online for this time of the year like banana ghosts and apple monster mouths, carrot witch fingers, and candy-corn-colored popsicles or parfaits.
Have fun with food. You can incorporate healthy foods into your party activities like decorating oranges with Jack-O-Lanterns or bobbing for apples.
Keep them on their feet
Have lots of physical activities like a spider crawl, three-legged monster run, pumpkin toss, and zombie dance party.
Rethink your drink. Instead, you can offer water, unsweetened tea, or 100% juice. Sparkling water mixed with 100% orange juice can be made into a Halloween-themed drink. Garnished with orange slices, black grapes, or blackberries.
Stay-At Home Crew
Do not allow children to self-service. Instead of giving them treats, give them one treat per child. Ask them to pick the one they like if you have multiple items. This will help you to manage your Halloween budget.
You can avoid the whole thing. Get your family dressed up in Halloween costumes and take them to a movie.
Be the house. There is no need to give out candy every Halloween. You can start a new tradition by giving out healthier treats and other non-edible items. We're not talking here about toothbrushes. Keep it fun and colorful, and make sure it's kid-friendly. These are just a few ideas.
Healthier Treats:
Clementines, blood Oranges, or oranges decorated as Jack-O-Lanterns with non-toxic ink
100% juice boxes or pouches
Small snack-sized packets of popcorn, pretzels and graham crackers, dried fruits or vegetables, trail mix or nuts, and pumpkin seeds
- 100% genuine fruit strips, ropes, or leathers
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Squeezable yogurt tubes or pouches
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Single-serving containers for mandarin oranges
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Sugar-free gum
Non-edible items:
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Glowsticks or small, glow-in-the-dark toys
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Bouncy balls
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Mini plush toys, wind-up toys
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Coloring books and crayons
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Stickers and stamps
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Temporary Tattoos
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Bubble makers
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Vampire's teeth or spider rings
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Putty, slime, or squishy toys
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Friendship bracelets
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Avoid giving small items to children as they could become chokers.
What to do with excess candy
Are you afraid that Halloween candy will continue to pile up until Valentine's Day? These are some ways to enjoy the evening responsibly and get rid of excess candy. Let each child have enough candy to last one to two weeks. This will allow them to experience the thrill again. The rest can be donated, thrown away, or re-purposed.
If your child requests candy, you can pair it with healthy snacks: an apple, banana, nuts, or celery with peanut butter.
Your child can buy "buyback" candy with money or tokens that they can exchange-in for fun activities such as ice skating or playing in the park.
- There are also buy-back and trade-in programs at some dentist offices.
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Use it to make holiday cookies.
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Use it to fill the pinata for your next birthday party or to send out Valentine cards.
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You can use it to make arts and crafts or decorate holiday gingerbread houses.
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Donate any excess candy to a shelter for homeless people, children's hospital, or program that provides care packages for troops overseas. Comforting gifts can include a familiar sweet treat from your home.
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You can do it! Let's make Halloween fun and spooky. And a lot healthier.
