So, how can you make Halloween healthier for your family, or for the trick-or-treaters coming to your door? Here are a few ideas (and we'd love to hear yours, too):
- If you're a parent, try to have your kids eat a healthy meal before you go out trick-or-treating. A full tummy won't stop them from eating candy completely, but it will at least mitigate the potential to over-indulge.
- Walk your trick-or-treat route instead of driving. A little exercise and fresh air goes a long way towards managing mood and mental health, energy levels, and weight management. Make it a fun challenge by setting a goal for how long or how far or how many houses you'd like to hit.
- If you're hosting a party, consider putting together a small buffet of healthy treats: peeled clementines look like small pumpkins, green spinach wraps look ghoulish, vegetables can be cut into bone shapes, and just about anything can be given a jack-o-lantern face.
- If you're handing out treats at your house, stand up against convention. You don't have to hand out candy on Halloween. Be "that" house and confidently and enthusiastically give out non-sugary treats or small toys. Some ideas could be:
- Stickers
- Bubbles
- Pencils
- Goldfish crackers
- Temporary tattoos
- Boxes of crayons
- Playdoh
- Apples (let's be honest, honeycrisp apples knock the socks off of any mainstream candy brand! Yum, yum!)
Before we go, we'll just drop this Jimmy Kimmel Halloween Candy Prank Compilation right here. You're welcome.
