How to have a fun, low-sugar Halloween that your kids will talk about for years
Halloween is such a fun holiday, the only thing that I don’t love about it is the bags and bags of candy that end up in my house! Of course, I don’t want my kids to eat all of the candy, but I also don’t want to be the one eating all of it either!
Whether you’re going out or staying in this Halloween, you can avoid the sugar coma by making some healthy Halloween swaps! Your kids will love healthy alternatives to Halloween candy if you make them frightfully good. These are some ideas for healthy holiday food and celebrations that are low on sugar and still a lot of fun.
Low-sugar foods to substitute for traditional Halloween candy:
Make your own sinister snacks. Having on-theme foods makes Halloween way more fun! Use cookie cutters to cut Halloween shapes in any food. You can even make zombie cookies or sandwiches with missing limbs. If you’re making cookies or other treats look for healthier recipes instead of going for the full sugar options!
You can even make fruits and veggies fun for Halloween! Peel grapes so that they look like eyeballs. Make a skeleton shape out of carrot sticks and sliced vegetables. Get creative with your food, mama! If you’re not feeling inspired, head to Pinterest! There are thousands of ideas there.
Try sugar-free or organic candy and gum. If you want to serve candy, try sugar-free or organic brands. Read the labels to find out how much sugar they contain. Sugar-free gum is especially good to help keep dental plaque from forming if your kids eat any sugary candy. It stimulates saliva and can help fight tooth decay. That’s mom win-win!
Hand out healthier foods. There are lots of nutritious foods you can hand out for trick or treating or at parties. Focus on sturdy fruits and vegetables like baby carrots, raisins, or oranges. Try pre-packaged cheese sticks or make your own trail mixes! Pre-packaged foods are going to have more sugar, so try to avoid those!
Serve hot chocolate or juice. After trick-or-treating, you can serve some fun drinks for your kids! If you live outside of Arizona where it’s actually cold, small servings of hot chocolate will provide some warmth if the weather has already turned cold. I love giving my kids Ovaltine because it’s packed with lots of vitamins and minerals and is still delicious!
If it’s still warm where you live, then try some apple cider! You can step up the cider by heating it up or adding a cinnamon stick!
Other Healthy Halloween Festivities and Ideas:
Consider alternatives to trick or treating. More parents are choosing healthy and safe alternatives to trick or treating, especially amid the Coronavirus Pandemic. Here are some party ideas that switch the focus away from the candy.
Have a costume parade. Dressing up is one of the best parts of Halloween for kids. Let them show off their costumes in a fun parade! Dream up creative categories so that everyone gets a prize. Opt for non-food prizes like art supplies so that you can refocus the point of the holiday on fun instead of food.
Tell scary stories in a haunted house. Halloween is supposed to be creepy. Turn your basement into a dungeon or make your backyard look like a cemetery. Then gather everyone up and take turns telling scary stories or read some Halloween books!
Indulge your creative side. There are all kinds of holiday crafts you can enjoy with your kids. You can decorate pumpkins, make scarecrows, or do some face painting. You can find free ideas online, or check your local library or even local businesses for fun ideas.
Hand out non-food treats. Whether you trick or treat or throw a party, you can hand out treats and favors other than candy. Pass out stickers, temporary tattoos, coins, pencil toppers or small novelty toys. Black toothbrushes will come in especially handy this time of year! Just make sure there are no choking hazards for very young kids.
These are all fun ways to make Halloween a little bit healthier, but remember it’s absolutely OK to have a few pieces of candy! You can enjoy food and holiday and still be a healthy person! If you need help making it through the holiday season without throwing off all the hard work you’ve put in this year, then let’s chat! I can help you develop a plan to make it into 2021 better than ever!
