Halloween costumes, party decorations, and bags of treats are all a part of Halloween celebrations. Creating a healthy Halloween holiday may seem challenging at times. However, celebrating Halloween healthfully doesn't have to be about giving up all the treats-just bringing them into balance.
First, teach your kids that "treats" can fit into a healthful meal after all the other food groups have been consumed. Eat candy as part of a well-balanced meal, instead of as a snack between meals.
Second, have your children eat a good meal before they trick-or-treat. Serve your child a nutritious meal or snack before going trick-or-treating so he/she won't dig into the bag of candy before he/she gets home.
Third, divide candy into weekly and daily portions - when it's all gone, they need to wait until the next day or week. Let your kids pick out a few of their favorite candy pieces to have each day. Remember, parents are in charge of what kids eat and when they eat it. This teaches kids portions and moderation when it comes to treats and candy.
Finally, remember there are fun and healthy ways to enjoy Halloween. Try these frightfully delicious recipes that also pack a nutritional punch.
Boo-Nanas
Skewer a half banana, dip in melted white chocolate, roll in flaked coconut and press on raisin eyes.
Scary Spiders
Slide 8 pretzel sticks into a large marshmallow. Use a clean paint brush to brush the entire creature with melted chocolate candy coating. Press on eyes - cinnamon red hot candies or M&Ms.
Strawberry Ghosts
Dip strawberries into melted white chocolate. Place stem-side up and allow for chocolate to set. Melt chocolate chips and dip toothpick into chocolate, and draw eyes and mouth on each white chocolate face.
Spider Web Veggie Dip
All you need
1 cup Hy-Vee ranch vegetable dip
1 tbsp Hy-Vee French salad dressing
Baby carrots
Black olives
All you do
1. Spread ranch dip on dinner plate.
2. Spoon French salad dressing into small resealable plastic bag. Seal bag and cut tiny hole in bottom corner. Squeeze bag to draw coil of French dressing over ranch dip. Drag toothpick through coil from center out, creating a web.
3. Serve dip with baby carrots, black olives and other vegetables.
Recipe from Hy-Vee dietitians
Bugs and Grubs in the Mud
Serves 1.
All you need
1/2 cup fat-free chocolate pudding
5 Keebler Bug Bites graham crackers
4 gummy squiggles
All you do
1. Place pudding in the center of a plate or bowl.
2. Arrange bug bites and gummy squiggles in and around pudding.
The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.