Spooktacular Menu & Healthy Halloween Tips

We know that candy and sugary treats are front-and-center at Halloween, even well before the kids head out for trick-or-treating. And kids can absolutely enjoy treats this Halloween! But it is important to find a balance. Here are some easy-to-make Halloween snacks we found that kids and parents will love as well as tips for how to incorporate some nutrition into your Halloween no matter where your children are that day!

Spooktacular Treats for Kids

Fizzy Eyeballs, Boo-Berry Blast, Goblin Granola, and Monster Pizza! Get all of these recipes HERE!

At Home

A healthy Halloween starts at home. The way your family celebrates holidays will set expectations for your kids when they participate in other classroom parties or afterschool celebrations. Here are some treat tips for your household:

• The Wholesome Dinner
  Plan to trick-or-treat after a wholesome dinner. When your kids are full, they will be less likely to snack on the treats they accumulate later in the evening.
• The Smaller Treat Container
  Leave the pillow cases at home and give your kids smaller treat containers to use while venturing out to collect their neighborhood bounty.
• Walk Don't Drive
  Show your kids how fun it can be to get out and walk the neighborhood. Add layers under their costumes if it is cold, remember safety rules and trick-or-treat with an adult.

At School

Healthy school celebrations provide consistent messages that reinforce the healthy habits students are creating throughout the school year. The healthy celebration possibilities are endless – get creative! Here are a couple ideas to get those creative juices flowing:

• The Great Pumpkin Run
  1-mile fun run where winners at each grade level receive award ribbons and pumpkins.
• The Healthy Snack Database
  Especially around the holidays, teachers and students can utilize the Alliance’s Smart Foods Planner, which takes the guesswork out of finding pre-approved healthy options for classroom celebrations.

During Out-of-School Time

Most students trick-or-treat in the evening, extending Halloween celebrations beyond the school day. This is where our afterschool programs and community settings can help amp up the healthy message. Here’s one of our favorites:

• The Swap
  Playing with your food has its place, and that place is during out-of-school time Halloween celebrations. Replace traditional candy at the Halloween celebration with vegetable skeletons, tangerine jack-o’-lanterns and banana ghosts.

Sources: Alliance for a Healthier Generation