Trick or Treat; Give Me Something Good To Eat

Trick or Treat! Halloween is right around the corner.  Children are anticipating buckets full or candy, and perhaps you’re even slightly excited about the left over mini- pieces of chocolate and fluorescent colored candy treats that will be scattered around the house after trick or treaters come knocking on your door. 

If there’s one thing children’s diets aren’t lacking these days it’s sugar.  Even breakfast cereals are jam packed with sugar and quick digesting simple carbohydrates that can send little scholars into a school slump by 10AM.  This Halloween, try giving out treats that still fall into the category of “something good to eat,” by a child’s standards, but upkeep your healthy standards as well.  Not only will the parents of the candy consumer thank you, but also, you can curb your candy fixation as well. 

Healthy Halloween Treat Alternatives- No worries, you don’t have to be known as the household that only gives out fresh fruit and whole- wheat crackers, but you can still supply healthier options. 

• Trail mix:  Trail mix is a great give-away choice, because you can really put some creativity into your mix.  Add M&M’s, almonds, dried fruit, sunflower seeds, whatever you like into the mix, and help trick or treaters get their antioxidants and stay energized throughout the night. 
• Sugar-Free options:  Candy companies like Hershey’s now make sugar-free versions of some of their most popular candies.  Look for these options when browsing the candy aisle.
• Sugar Free Gum:  Not only is it sugar-free, but also, it takes a while to chew meaning kids won’t be unwrapping and eating piece after piece of candy. 
• Dark chocolate:  Chocolate that’s proven to be good for you? Studies have shown that dark chocolate (eaten in moderation- about 3.5 oz/day) may decrease your risk of heart conditions and may lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It’s packed with antioxidants, which will help reduce the effects of aging.  Dark chocolate even acts as an anti-depressant, because it contains serotonin- no wonder it makes us feel so good to indulge in this treat.  Best of all it tastes great!
• 100- calorie packs:  Kids need portion control too. This is an easy way for parents to include a treat in their child’s school lunch the week after Halloween that acts as filling snack as well. 

Staying On Track with Temptation

When Halloween is all said and done, don’t fall prey to the jumbo bags of candy on sale.  November marks the beginning of the holiday season.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are not far off.  Seasonal treats will be everywhere you look. Don’t make things complicated by having candy lying around the house. 

If you have left over candy give it away or store it in a cabinet that is out of sight so you don’t fall prey to sweetness whenever you walk by.  If sweets are your weakness and you feel like you can’t resist treat yourself to 1 or maybe even 2 pieces if you’re eating healthy and exercising. Just remember the more sugar you consume- the more your body wants.

A small handful of M&M’s or a Twizzler here and there may seem like you’re practicing portion control, but when that jumbo bag is gone within a week or two the Halloween candy from the past may come back to haunt you.