Quick Tips for Enjoying a Healthier Halloween

Quick Tips for Enjoying a Healthier Halloween

Halloween is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the Fall - the decorations,  pumpkin carving, costumes, and of course the candy! Sugar-overloaded children on Halloween is likely something every parent is familiar with and sees as a late-night cap to the holiday. While kids may eat more sugar than usual or preferable on Halloween, the day doesn’t have to be an entire sugar wash-out. Read-on for some healthy Halloween eating tips and recipes to bring some balance to the day for your family!

Fill them up with Balanced Meals

Providing your family with nutritious meals throughout the day with plenty of fiber and protein may help curb both the intake and effects of all the sugar the kids have during the Halloween festivities. Feeling full after a balanced meal may keep them from eating quite as much candy afterwards.  And fiber from whole grains, fruits and vegetables, as well as protein from things like lean meat, fish or beans will keep blood sugars from rising and falling as rapidly. This will help to avoid some of the negative effects of sugar from all the candy they haul in from Trick-or-Treating! 

• Looking for some Halloween meal inspiration? This Chicken and Spiced Apples, or Ravioli and Vegetable Soup are both easy family-friendly recipes that can be made in  30 minutes or less.
• Looking for  budget-friendly fare? Try this Sweet Potato Mac n Cheese or these Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Tenders.
• Want more tips and guidance to keep the holiday season fun and healthy?  Click below to book a chat with one of our Registered Dietitians to help you organized and motivated!

Make Snacks Satisfying

Whether it’s Halloween or not, snacks are usually a pretty regular part of kids’ eating routines - while at home, with a sitter, or bouncing from one activity to another on the weekend. Snack times are a great opportunity to offer fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains - which will help keep your kids satiated. Processed snacks like pretzels and chips don’t have much to offer when it comes to fiber, protein or other beneficial nutrients - leading to rapid spikes and drops in blood sugar and feeling hungry again pretty soon after eating them. On Halloween, ensuring that the snack options are nutritious and satisfying may help keep them from going so candy-crazy once the Trick-or-Treating starts. Here are some healthy Halloween snacks to try:

• Air popped popcorn - an easy whole grain snack
• Trail mix - make a homemade version with nuts, pumpkin seeds and dried fruit. Get kids involved and have them mix it all together. This is a great protein and fiber-packed snack.
• Festive clementines or tangerines - grab a marker and draw some jack-o-lantern faces on them. A fun serving of fruit!
• Veggies and hummus - filled with fiber and protein to keep them satisfied
• Ants on a log - another good fiber and protein-filled snack, this old stand-by of celery with peanut butter and raisins is always fun and easy

Taming the Sugar Rush

When the sugar has taken over and you are faced with a hyper candy-crazed child, what do you do?? Get them moving! Physical activity is fueled by sugar in the blood, so movement will help use up some of the sugar in their bloodstream. Here are some fun activities to try:

• Set-up a relay race in the backyard
• Play a family game of tag - and pretend to be monsters or zombies!
• Challenge them to a jumping jack contest
• Take a walk around the block 
• Bike ride or scooter on the driveway or around the neighborhood (if it’s not too dark)