Tips for a Healthier Halloween Night

Halloween doesn’t mean handing out sweets full of empty calories!

Being healthy doesn’t mean giving up all of the treats, so remember:

• Balance. Portion candy with other healthy alternatives such as: fruits, vegetables, crackers, pretzels, low-fat milk, granola bars.
• Eat Dinner. Remember to feed your child a well-balanced dinner prior to trick-or-treating. This will prevent candy from substituting dinner as well as prevent overeating of treats.

Sensible Treats for Trick-or-Treaters

• Granola Bars
• Teddy Grahams
• Fruit Leathers
• Kudos Fruit & Nut Bar
• 100% Juice Boxes
• Sugarless Gum Packs
• Frito-Lay Munchies Kid Mix
• Packs of cheese & crackers
• Chex Mix
• Chocolate-covered dried fruit
• Honey Maid Cinnamon Sticks
• Welch’s Fruit Snacks
• Rice Krispie Treats
• Animal Crackers
• Nutrition bars such as NutriPals or Luna

Don’t forget.... If you do decide to hand out candy on Halloween night, be sure to make more sensible choices:

• Opt for low-fat. Choose candy such as Peppermint Patties, Three Musketeers, and Twizzlers. These all have less fat and calories than their counterparts and still taste great.
• Size matters. Always offer fun-size or snack-size versions of candy to decrease the calories, fat and sugar content. Kids get a sugar fix without over-doing it.
• More isn’t always better. When handing out candy, don’t give out multiple pieces or handfuls. Give out one fun-size candy bar or treat and then hand out a healthier option, such as a mini box of raisins or a pack of sugarless gum or candy.