Live Healthy Live Well

Halloween is right around the corner and can be a fun filled family time.  My sister has an open-house event, complete with healthy chili cooking in the crock-pot and the adults dress up to pass out the treats. It is fun to see the surprise on the faces of the kids when they see the adults dressed up!

Treats are part of the fun but perhaps this year you will share a non-sweet treat with those who visit your house. Kids will get plenty of candy and may welcome this change of pace. Small packages of crackers can be great for those tiny Halloween participants; even toddlers can safely enjoy a cracker snack.

Here are some other Halloween Treats you might want to try:
· Small bags of pretzels
· Small boxes of raisins or other dried fruit
· Small bag of graham crackers
· Apples
· Small containers of modeling clay
· Fall themed pens, pencils or erasers
· Stickers
· Temporary Tattoos
· Spider Rings
· 100% fruit snacks
· 100% fruit juice boxes
· Cereal bars

If you must give out candy, pass out a miniature size. Even if you pass out two, it will be a smaller amount than a full-size candy bar.
Enjoy walking around your neighborhood and visiting neighbors while participating in this fun fall event. You’ll get some physical activity which can help off-set the extra calories you may consume from snacking on sweet treats. When you get home from your Halloween adventure, laugh with your kids as you enjoy a piece of your favorite candy.

Take a few minutes to sort your bounty into piles:
Favorite Treats
Don’t Like/Throw Away Items
Non-food Treats
Food Items – good for Lunches or Snacks

If you are lucky enough to get some non-food treats, such as spider rings, tattoos, pencils, or pens, place them in their own special pile. You may find that your favorite goblin enjoys those treats as much as the candy. When enjoying your treats, remember to do so in moderation. Your candy can last until the New Year and it is OK to throw some of it out!

Writer: Michelle Treber, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Pickaway County, Heart of Ohio EERA, Ohio State University Extension.

Reviewer: Marilyn Rabe, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Franklin County, Heart of Ohio EERA, rabe.9@osu.edu

Source: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “Tricks to Enjoying Halloween Treats.” Retrieved 10-21-2013 from http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6442458793.