The abundance of treats at Halloween makes it easy to overindulge. Whether you’re a trick-or-treater, party host, or house crew, here are some tips to make Halloween healthier.
For Trick-or-Treaters
- Refuel first. A well-balanced meal before Halloween festivities will provide nutrition, help reduce cravings, and hopefully prevent your child from eating too much candy.
- Focus on the experience. Instead of focusing on the candy, have fun with the costumes, admire the spooky Halloween decor, enjoy visiting with people in the neighborhood, and sing Halloween songs as you walk around. Enjoy a treat or two, but avoid making candy the center of your festivities.
- To move. To combat extra calories consumed, walk with your children instead of driving them from house to house. Consider setting goals for the distance you will walk or competing to see who takes the most steps.
For party hosts
- Have fun with food. Healthy Halloween-themed snacks can be just as fun as sweet treats. Visit the Creating Better Health blog for Healthy Halloween Recipes.
- Keep guests standing. Include games that will get people moving. A zombie dance party, musical chairs to Halloween music or a pumpkin toss are all fun ways to encourage movement.
- Rethink the drink. We often forget about the extra calories in drinks. Offer water instead of sugary drinks. You can make it fancier with sparkling water and a little 100% orange juice, garnished with orange slices and berries.
For the team at home
- Save some candy for treats. As you sit at home waiting for the doorbell to ring, you might find your hand wandering toward the bowl of candy. Place the bowl across the room so you don’t have as easy access to it.
- Don’t be afraid to be thatMost kids are just as happy with a healthy snack or an inedible item. Hand out snack-sized bags of pretzels or popcorn or 100% juice boxes. Crayons, stickers, and friendship bracelets are also good ideas for non-food items.
