Tips and Treats for a Healthy Halloween

[Guest guest]

Good Morning!

 

Tips and Treats for a Healthy Halloween

 

It is that time again. The time for all your ghosts, goblins and neighborhood

witches to come a knockin'.

 

When finding treats for your guests, you may want to consider low- calorie,

low-fat options. Snacks that are fun and good for your kid's health is a win-win

situation. Halloween/holiday packaging has even become more creative in recent

years to add to the enticement value. You may want to consider

 

Sugar-free gum

100% Juice boxes

Cheese sticks

Cheese and cracker snacks

Organic candied apples

Dark Chocolate treats

Popcorn or popcorn balls

Apples

Grapes

Bananas

Unshelled peanuts

Low sugar cookies, pumpkin muffins or peanut butter drops (see below)

 

 

There are great non-food treats you can offer such as rubber spiders or worms,

stickers, baseball cards, balloons, crazy top pencils, crayons, colored chalk,

comic erasers and whistles.

 

Make sure all your treats are individually wrapped. Even the non-food goods. If

you buy in bulk, you can find great little gift bags you can fill and then close

them up with a twist or steam seal. Tag your goodies with a note with your name

and address. This eases the mind's of fellow parents.

 

Safety Comes First

 

Be sure your kid's costumes are flame-resistant. If there is a mask with the

costume, be sure they have plenty of breathing room and make sure the mask does

not obstruct their view. Comfortable shoes are important to avoid blisters and

accessories should be kept to a minimum, the younger the child is.

 

Be sure and impose the basic rules:

 

1. If not accompanied by a parent, be sure kids travel in groups.

 

2. Keep on sidewalks as much as possible. If there are no sidewalks, stay to the

extreme side of the road.

 

3. Carrying a flashlight or glowstick.

 

4. Reflective stickers can added to costumes and shoes.

 

5. Visit homes that you know. Most people will keep a light on the front porch

as a welcome indicator.

 

6. Be sure to tell the kids to always be pleasant, courteous and thankful.

 

7. It is always a good precaution to examine all treats before letting your

children eat them to be sure they have not been tampered with. Be sure packaged

candies are unopened and fruits and vegetables are in good condition. Cut all

fruit in quarters before opening.

 

8. If you are inviting guests, turn on your front light or decorate your front

door to make it inviting to guests. Make sure your front door is not cluttered

with objects that children may trip over. If you have pets, be sure they are

secured away from the door.

 

9. Halloween parties at home can alleviate fears of your kids going outside,

especially if it happens to be bad weather.

 

10. Remember: safety comes first.

 

Halloween Treats

 

These are some great suggestions that the kids can help you make, if you have

kids. You can also have a great time making them yourself for your little guests

(or even your big guests!)

 

Scary Pizza Faces

 

Let kids arrange sliced olives, green peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni, and other

things on English muffins brushed with tomato sauce. Top with grated cheese for

" hair " and heat in the microwave or oven until the cheese melts.

 

 

Bat Droppings: Peanut Butter Drops

 

1 jar reduced fat Peanut Butter

1 box confectioner's sugar

 

 

Blend 4 heaping tablespoons of peanut butter with 3 teaspoons confectioner's

sugar. Add a little water of it is too binding. Then drop on a cookie sheet and

bake at 350° F for 10 minutes.

 

 

Ghoulish Ghosts: Quick Pumpkin Cupcakes

 

1 box regular yellow or vanilla cake mix, 2-layer-size

2 eggs

1 Tablespoon oil

2/3 cup canned pumpkin

1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 cup water or apple juice

1 can ready made frosting or Light Cool Whip

 

 

Decorations:

Canned low-fat vanilla frosting

Candy corn

Black or orange jelly beans

Black licorice

 

 

Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray each muffin cup with nonstick cooking spray or

use paper cupcake liners. Blend the cake mix with the eggs, oil, pumpkin,

pumpkin pie spice, and the water or juice with mixer at low speed until

moistened. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Spoon into the prepared muffin

pan. Bake 18 minutes or until done. Cool in pan completely before frosting. Pile

the frosting/whip cream very high on the cupcake to resemble a ghost. Kids will

love to decorate these cupcakes. Makes about 18 cupcakes.

 

 

Monster Brains: Halloween Cereal Balls

 

1/4 cup Smart Balance margarine or butter

1 package (10 oz.) marshmallows

2 Tablespoons orange-flavored gelatin

6 cups crisp rice cereal

1/2 cup candy corn

 

 

Combine margarine and marshmallows in 2-quart glass bowl. Microwave or heat in

oven, uncovered, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes or until marshmallows are puffed. Add orange

gelatin; mix until combined. Stir in cereal until well coated. Mix in candy

corn. Cool enough to handle. With buttered hands, form mixture into 24 balls.

Place on waxed paper until cool. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap for storage. Tips:

Pieces of cut black licorice can be substituted for candy corn. Mixture can be

pressed into greased 13x9-inch baking pan and cut into squares for serving. Per

Serving: 85 calories, 1 g. protein, 2 g. fat, 119 mg. sodium, 0 mg. cholesterol.

 

 

Vampire Bites: Garlic Puffs (better for adults)

 

Make your own dough or substitute homemade dough with ready made pop up

croissants or rolls.

Roll out the dough and spoon in fresh or chopped garlic.

Roll them up and place them on a cookie tray.

Place them in a pre-heated oven at 350° F for 10-15 minutes.

 

 

Enjoy the holiday!

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac

Peacefulmind.com

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