Is it possible to have a healthy Halloween? It sure is!
Dr. Patricia has some tips to help your family have a healthy and fun Halloween:
Let children know ahead of time about the healthy Halloween plan
Increase family exercise the week of Halloween
Serve healthy family meals all week, especially on the day of Halloween
Instead of focusing on candy, focus on Halloween history, pumpkin patches, and fun activities
Inspect all treats for safety
Allow children to enjoy their treats that day
The day after Halloween, let them choose two of their favorites and get rid of the rest
Hand out alternatives to candy to avoid having leftover candy at home:
Pencils
Stickers
Play-Doh
Trading cards
Non-sugary treats such as bags of plain popcorn, nuts, seeds, or raisins
Halloween party tips:
Get everyone moving with music and games
Serve healthy foods: raw fruits and veggies, whole grain crackers, cheese, lean meats
Have lots of water available (no soda, fruit juice or sugary drinks)
Have Halloween-themed cookie cutters to make sandwiches and fruits more festive and fun
Check out this healthy and delicious Halloween recipe:
Butternut Squash and Granny Smith Apple Soup
Ingredients:
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, diced
1 small butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and choppe
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and cut into pieces
1 quart, low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
Preparation
Sauté onions and carrots until onions are softened, about 5-7 minutes.
Add chopped squash and apple and cook for 2 minutes. Add broth
Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes
Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth, working in two batches if necessary.
Nutrition Facts: Per Serving: Calories 119, Calories from Fat 17, Total Fat 1.9g (sat 0.2g), Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 38mg, Carbohydrate 23g, Fiber 3.2g, Protein 2.5g