Tips for a Healthier Halloween in Highlands Ranch

With the big day right around the corner I wanted to suggest a few ideas on how to make this Halloween a little bit healthier for yourself and the kids!  It’s inevitable that there is going to be a little (or a lot) more sugar being consumed this time of year, but below are a few tricks we use with our kids to try to keep it a little more on the healthy side, while still enjoying the Halloween experience.  With Halloween smack in the middle of Flu season, the better job we can do can pay dividends on our Immune systems and overall health this time of year.

1. Keep Balance in mind:  

Halloween is just 1 day out of the year and lets keep it that way. Even though there might be other parties or school snacks, tell your kids they can only eat candy on this one day. In other words, throw the rest out at the end of the night.  Don’t let it linger around the kitchen to snack on all the sugar for the next 2 weeks. Sugar is very damaging to the Immune system thus the reason many kids get colds, flus, ear infections, etc in the weeks following Halloween.  Make sure this Holiday is just a 1 day celebration and not a 2-3 week event.

2. Make your own “healthy treats” for the big day.  Here are a few examples.

• Warm apple cidar
• Apple slices with fruit dip or yogurt dip.
• Baked apples & pears with honey and sprinkled nuts
• Roasted pumpkin seeds
• Gluten-free chocolate chip pumpkin bars

3. Get Everyone Up and Moving

Make sure that the party isn't all about the food. Plan fun activities and games to get the kids moving, such as a costume parade or relay race. Try "Monster Tag" — one child is the monster and whomever he or she tags turns into a zombie. Have FUN with it and get a little "exercise" in before going out trick or treating!

 4. Toy or Treat

Trade in the kid’s trick or treat candy for a toy. One thing we do at my home is have the kids trade in all the candy candy for a nice toy or game.