The National Confectioners Association predicted that Americans would spend $2.6 billion on Halloween candy alone in 2015. That’s a whole lot of candy corn, candy apples and tantalizingly tempting chocolaty treats! But all that added sugar can wreak havoc on your diet and your teeth. So we’ve got some tricks to help you and your family enjoy a healthy Halloween, without skimping on fun.
- Hand out Healthy Treats
This year, you can be the most fun house on the block — and you can do it without candy. Instead of traditional treats, consider handing out spooky seasonal stickers, small toys or fun-size bags of popcorn, pretzels, raisins or trail mix. Make trick-or-treating into a party by passing out glow-in-the-dark necklaces and bracelets, or even glow-in-the-dark toothbrushes.
- Create Fun, Festive Snacks
While you should always hand out commercially wrapped treats to hungry trick-or-treaters, when it comes to seasonal snacks to share with your family at home, you can get a little more creative. Your favorite, every day, healthy snacks can become frightfully festive with a little imagination. It’s fun to think about how to turn clementines into pumpkins (try using apple slices or celery sticks to make the stalk), or string-cheese snacks or bananas into ghosts (pro tip: mini chocolate chips make for perfectly spooky eyes). If you’re feeling really artsy, you might try designing more elaborate creations with sliced fruit and vegetables. You can enjoy these treats with just your family or use them as appetizers for your Halloween party.
- Put the Candy to Good Use
You can’t control how much candy your kids receive from others this Halloween, but you are in charge of how much of it they (and you) eat. You could teach your kids a bit about economics by turning candy into household currency. Let them trade in candy for fun outings to a roller rink, bowling alley or trampoline park.
You also could see about running a candy fundraiser at school, or even throw the kids a post-Halloween party where they can pool their candy with friends and donate it to a good cause like Operation Gratitude.
Keep in mind, just in case, that if anyone in your family does overindulge in the sweet stuff, having dental benefits through TotalSource® can help you make sure you have the coverage you need.
- Make Fitness a Priority
Crisp fall weather and eye-catching foliage make for the perfect opportunity to spend more time outdoors and begin a new fitness regimen. Use a calorie-burning calculator to help motivate you, or aim for 60 minutes of exercise daily to boost your physical activity and improve your overall health. Sign your family up for a local fun run, or create an obstacle course at your holiday party. Instead of driving from house to house during trick-or-treating, consider walking or riding your bikes to burn extra calories.
With these tricks, you and your family can enjoy a healthy Halloween this year, without missing out on any of the spooky holiday fun.
