Healthy Halloween Eating
While many parents may feel that their children are on a "sugar-high" during Halloween,
sugar has not been shown to cause hyperactivity. However, Halloween is a great time
to teach children the "trick" to balancing the gooey candy they love with healthy
Halloween eating – and foods that are both delicious and satisfying!
Here are some healthy Halloween eating tips:
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Serve children a balanced meal before the Halloween festivities begin so that children aren't tempted to eat their candy before they get home.
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Discuss with children in advance how much and how often they are allowed to eat their Halloween candy.
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Offer trick-or-treat candy as a substitute for dessert after lunch and dinner or a few pieces along with a healthy snack.
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Mix in healthy snacks along with Halloween candy, like string cheese, vegetables with dip, trail mix, yogurt or a glass of milk – for dunking cookies and washing down candy.
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Model healthy habits to your children by practicing restraint when dipping into the candy jar yourself.
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Remember that dessert can be part of a healthy diet. Overly restrictive rules on candy can make it even more desirable to your kids.
Healthy Halloween Eating – Pumpkin Recipes
Many children may not realize the wonderful foods made from the very food they just carved and decorated! Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A, calcium and potassium, as well as fiber.
Let your kids help you make a nutritious pumpkin recipe!
Add some canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice to your favorite pancake recipe or
to our Whole-Grain Pancakes
for a yummy breakfast. Top off the pancakes with vanilla yogurt for an extra boost
of bone-building calcium!
More Creative Halloween Activities
Host a pumpkin-carving contest at your home or school. Invite other parents
or older siblings to supervise use of carving tools. Instead of carving, give younger
children craft paint or magic markers to create their very own jack-o-lanterns.
Make an edible scarecrow! Offer a prize for the "healthiest" scarecrow
made from fruit and vegetables and other foods from all the food groups!
Have a healthy Halloween!