Balancing a Healthy Halloween

 

Balancing a Healthy Halloween

Written by Jennifer Korneski, Somerset County 4-H & Healthy Living Coordinator

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Halloween is a time of year both kids and adults can enjoy dressing up as funny clowns, scary zombies, fuzzy black cats or glamorous princesses as they run through the neighborhood trick or treating for candy with their friends. I have vivid memories of dumping my treats on the living room floor with my sister and sorting piles of candy. Now seeing my children do the same makes me smile but also think SUGAR RUSH! Halloween comes once a year and children look forward this day all year long. As parents, we must keep in mind it is the nutrition habits and what children eat on a daily basis that have the most impact on health. There are ways to cut back on the excess sugar this Halloween season and enjoy treats in moderation. Make the focus of your Halloween celebration a day of fun with games, music and crafts in addition to food.

One way is to not go trick or treating on an empty stomach. Eating a healthy meal before going out can fill our bellies and reduce overindulging. Staying hydrated is also important. Below are a few tips that can help balance the sweet fun of Halloween so that your family can curb the candy craze and enjoy Halloween festivities without feeling sick.

Offer Healthy Food Options Before the Sweet Treats

  • Family style meals like chili, mac & cheese or soups are great options and can be made ahead of time.

  • Think orange! Orange foods like carrots, clementine or oranges, sweet potato fries and butternut squash soup are rich in vitamin C and A and a good source of fiber.

  • Guacamole “green slime” and black bean hummus served with corn chips and raw veggies make healthy, festive dip options

  • Need a salty crunch? Popcorn and roasted pumpkin seeds are low in calories and packed with nutrition.

  • Homemade mummy or monster face pizzas are a fun way for kids to cook while using their imagination.

  • Have fun with fruit! Carve a watermelon monster head to serve fruit salad, make up a plate of banana ghosts or slice apples and serve with a yogurt dip or peanut butter sauce.

  • For additional healthy and fun food holiday ideas follow https://www.facebook.com/SCNJFCHS and search the videos for “Halloween”.

Portion Control with Parties

Reducing the serving size of food provides smaller portions and reduces food waste. Choose fun size instead of full-size candy, serve mini cupcakes or muffins instead of regular size, cut brownies into smaller squares and serve snack size bags of pretzels and chips. Drinks can be loaded with extra sugar and empty calories. Instead of serving soda, offer water, flavored seltzers or unsweetened ice tea with lemon and orange slices. If serving juice, make sure to use 100% fruit juice.

The Candy Craze

It can save time to stock up on Halloween candy ahead of time, however, keep it stored out of reach so that you won’t be tempted to open the bag prior to Halloween - out of sight, out of mind! After you bring home your candy stash on Halloween, sort it by pulling out favorites, and have each family member place candy in a bag labeled with their name instead a keeping a large candy bowl. Be sure to toss any open or ripped wrappers or candy you don’t want your children to have (for me it’s Fun Dip!)

Here are a few other ideas:

  • Donate candy to a children’s hospital, food pantry or other community organization.

  • Most dentist offices have a candy buy-back program the week after Halloween and donate to the troops.

  • Save it for holiday baking or decorating gingerbread houses

  • Upcoming birthday? Use it to fill a piñata or goodie bags

Use some of these tips and ideas to balance healthy nutrition while having a haunting good time this Halloween! If you are looking for extra fun this season, join the Somerset County 4-H at our Full Moon Trunk-or-Treat!

Somerset County 4-H Full Moon Trunk-or-Treat
Friday, October 22, 2021 6:00pm-7:30pm

Open to the public for all ages, share a spook-tacular night with your friends as you go trunk-to-trunk trick-or-treating! This will be a devilishly good time filled with games, activities, arts and crafts, and of course, candy! So get dressed up in your scariest or cutest costume and have some Halloween fun with 4-H.

SOURCES

 
Somerset County 4-H