In 2011, Americans spent more than two billion dollars on Halloween candy. With more than 41 million trick-or-treaters expected this year, that number isn’t likely to shrink.
So how do you provide a healthy treat without getting your house egged? I’m very much against contributing to children’s sugar highs, and I’ve had some success with non-traditional trick-or-treats such as coloring books and crayons, Halloween pencils and erasers, fun Halloween toys and even pumpkins.
I tried giving out miniature boxes of raisins one year. For anyone willing to make so bold a move, I would suggest that a dark chocolate coating for the raisins might prevent your windows from being soaped. Dark chocolate does have antioxidants and is good for you in small doses.
If you are worried about your trick –or-treating child’s sugar intake, it’s helpful to prepare with a non-candy prize that they’ll really, really want. Let them use their trick-or-treat candy as currency to purchase the item. Kids are able to go out and have fun trick-or-treating, and you’ll be able to control how much of the booty they get to eat.
But Halloween is not just for kids
It is also time for the adults to get out and party and have some fun. But can you do this and still keep a healthy diet?
Well, when you host your own Halloween party, you are in charge of the food. I’ll share an example of a really fun party that I hosted.
The theme was spiders, and it featured the film “Arachnophobia.” I decorated the house with spiders and spider webs I even included popcorn with little black ring spiders.
I introduced my guests to a game called “The Spider’s Web,” which is played by standing in a circle and taking people’s hands across from you, and then you figure out how to untangle the web that you just created without letting go of each other’s hands.
We made vegetable spiders and dip told spider stories. Each person tried to outdo the last spider story — “well when I was in Texas the spider I saw was…”, “You wouldn’t believe the time that the spider…” It was a lot of fun to hear everyone trying to outdo each other.
I also served a spider web pizza. I made the pizza, but instead of just sprinkling the cheese on randomly, I laid it out in a web pattern.
If you host a similar party and know someone who’s really frightened of spiders, give them the center seat during movie time. It’s just as fun to watch them as it is to watch the movie.
More ideas for Halloween healthy fun
Other ideas for food could be dinner in a pumpkin. There are many recipes that would fit this theme, you just have to pick your favorite one and make it.
Carrot juice with ginger is a healthy Halloween drink. Serve it in a round glass that has been decorated with a jack-o’-lantern face.
Don’t forget to visit your local health food store. They often have great tasting healthy chocolates and sugar-free treats.
Finally, eat your green monster salad. It can ward off any next-day visits from the calorie monster, sugar monster, tooth decay monster or even the upset stomach monster.
Have a fun, healthy, regret free Halloween.
