Happy Halloween!!! Last week we started Part 1 of 2 of Healthy Halloween Treats and looked at various healthy alternatives to the normal sugary treats given on Halloween. This week we will continue our focus on healthy Halloween Treats and also take a look at what to do with treats brought home from a night of trick-or-treating.
In addition to healthy food alternatives, there are also non-food treats that can be given out as Halloween treats. These are items that are also typically given in birthday goodie bags. Some examples are:
- small toys and pocket-sized games, glow sticks and costume jewelry
- funny Halloween glasses, false teeth and miniature magnifying glasses
- tiny decks of cards, small stuffed animals and pencils
- pencil toppers and fancy erasers, markers and stickers
- rub-on or stick-on temporary tattoos, bookmarks and crayons
- coloring tablets, paint brushes and pages from coloring books
- children’s magazines or comic books, bottles of bubbles and coins
- fake money, whistles and used books
Encourage kids to be more physically active by giving small, inexpensive toys to promote physical activity and get them up and moving. Some examples are:
- a bouncy ball
- a jump rope
- a beanbag for hacky sack
- a plastic or foam flier
So, what do you do with all those treats that are brought home? Parents or a supervising adult should always inspect all Halloween treats before children eat them. When in doubt, throw it out. Treats should be individually wrapped and show no signs of tampering like tears, tiny pinholes, unusual appearance or discoloration. Halloween is the perfect time to teach children moderation in eating. Help kids include their treats in a healthy eating plan, set limits on when and how much candy they can have, and stick to those limits.
Inventory your children’s candy, and don’t let them eat too many treats at once. Let kids choose a few pieces of candy to eat on Halloween night and then eat a few pieces each day after that. Forbidding or restricting candy may cause them to develop patterns of hoarding and obsession with candy. Remember, everything is O.K. with moderation.
Teach kids that sweets can fit into their diet in limited amounts, maybe as part of a certain meal, as a snack with a fruit, etc. Combine a treat, such as a miniature candy bar, with a healthy snack like an apple. Make sure the child eats the apple first so they are less hungry for the treat. This provides them with the health benefits of the apple while teaching them healthier eating habits.
If your child comes home with way too much candy and sweet treats, arrange a buyout. Pay a nickel or dime (or whatever you choose) for each sweet treat they “sell” you, and let them “earn” money for a toy or game they want to buy.
I wish each of you a very safe, healthy and Happy Halloween.
For more information about healthy Halloween Treats, please call Kim Miles, County Extension Agent – Family & Consumer Sciences at 325-646-0386.