With Halloween right around the corner, now’s a great time to look at practical ways to have a healthy and balanced Halloween for you and your family. With sweets being plentiful this week, it’s understandable that you would be concerned about throwing off your family’s healthy eating habits or sending mixed-messages by having alot of treats in the house. However, with some small steps, you can make sure to keep this a balanced and fun holiday for you and your family.

Here are some tips for having a healthy and enjoyable Halloween

1. Fuel up for the trick-or-treating
Before heading out to go trick-or-treating, make sure to have a healthy dinner that will help keep stomach’s full and discourage snacking on treats along the way. A full stomach also means that there will be less candy binging when you return home! Check out these healthy and spooky recipes from dietician Heather King to help you get into the Halloween spirit. (link provided in text)

2. Appropriate sized Halloween collecting bags
Ensure that the size of the bag or container your child is using to collect their treats is proportionate to their age. By keeping the collection bag size in mind, you can moderate how much candy they’ll be able to fill it up with.

3. Healthy treat hand-out
There are many great alternatives to hand out to eager trick-or-treaters instead of relying on bulk packs of candy. Some great options to consider:

• Plain dark chocolate candy bars is marginally better than candy, as dark chocolate also carries the added benefit of antioxidants and tends not to be eaten in as large a quantity as other chocolate;
• Snack pack of pretzels, raisins, plain or chocolate covered, granola bars, trailmix; sugar-free gum; individual juice boxes.
• Consider non-food items like stickers, small toys, or anything else fun from your local dollar store.
  (Adapted from Cooperative Extension)

4. Limit the amount of candy
Once all the goodies have been collected and brought home, store them in an area that isn’t easily accessible to small hands. Set a limit as to how much candy can be given out over the course of a day and have your child choose a piece of fruit or vegetable to have with the candy. This way you can also reinforce moderation and balance.

5. Leave the car at home
Halloween is a great time to walk the neighbourhood with the kids and fit in some physical activity.  Fight the temptation to drive down streets or go from one neighbourhood to another by vehicle and enjoy being outside with your family. Change up the pace too and have your kids try skipping between houses or have it that every third house they have to sprint to.

I think the most important tip though is not too worry too much about one night of indulgence! Remember, Halloween is a single day on the calendar and if your family eats sensibly during the rest of the year, it will have a more lasting impact than one day with a few extra sweets.

Photo courtesy of Felixco, Inc.