Have a Hauntingly Healthy Halloween

For most kids, Halloween means a bucket full of sweet treats. While this is scary enough to any Registered Dietitian, what’s even more frightening is the abundance of high sugar, high fat and low nutrient treats kids are bombarded with before the trick or treating begins.

Last year I was horrified when I picked my boys up from daycare to learn that not only had they had a Halloween party full of cupcakes, cheese puffs and orange juice drink, but they also had a load of candy as they had trick or treated from classroom to classroom. I’m not opposed to children (or adults) enjoying a little sugar on Halloween, but there’s more to Halloween than candy. There’s dressing up, having fun with friends, playing games and doing crafts. With so many celebrations throughout the year, it’s important to enjoy each one without going overboard.  Besides, how can Batman protect Gotham if he is filling his body with sugar?  So this Halloween, keep your superhero healthy with these tips:

• Manage how Monsters Munch:  Make sure most of the food provided during party time is nutrient-rich. Try apples with caramel or yogurt-dip, Pumpkin dip and graham crackers, Munster Monster Kabobs, Mummy Mix, Witch’s fingers (carrots)  with dip or homemade Oatmeal Cheddar Blackberry Bars.
• BOOgy down:  Instead of sitting down and eating, keep kids moving with ghost sack races, pin the nose on the witch, a skeleton scavenger hunt and costume parades.
• Strengthen their Skelton: Offer to bring in chocolate milk in place of sugary drinks.  It’s good nutrition in disguise and kids love it!
• Control Candy:  Instead of candy, surprise kids with stickers or temporary tattoos, bouncy balls, fun straws, colorful pencils, or spooky plastic rings. 

How do you keep Halloween Healthy?

Laura Buxenbaum, MPH, RD, LDN