Halloween brings out the kid in all of us. It's fun to
get dressed up in a costume and parade around the neighborhood or go to a
party. Treats are a part of the fun. However, treats don't have to be sticky,
gooey candy.
When gathering the treats you will offer this year think
about some possible low- calorie, low-fat options. Here are some ideas to get
you started thinking:
· Cheese and
cracker packages
· Sugar-free
gum
· Cheese
sticks
· Juice box
packages
· Small
packages of nuts or raisins
· Package of
instant cocoa mix
· Peanuts in
the shell
You could also consider giving some non-food treats such
as stickers, balloons, crayons, pencils, colored chalk, erasers, whistles,
baseball cards, rubber spiders or worms. A friend of mine used to give nickels,
in today's economy that may need to be dimes.
Before kids leave for trick-or-treating make sure they
eat a healthy snack or light meal. Make sure children eat a meal or snack
before going trick-or-treating so they won't be tempted to dig into their bag
of goodies before they get home.
When children get home, check the treats and keep only
treats which are unopened. Be sure to inspect fruits and homemade goods for
anything suspicious.
It's better to eat trick-or-treat candy over several days
as a substitute for dessert or a few pieces along with a healthy snack.
Having a party for your children and a few friends can
reduce safety concerns. Some nutritious treats for your party could include
popcorn, apples, grapes, bananas, unshelled peanuts, and not-too-sweet cookies.
Kids could help with making the treats like "Pizza
Faces." Let kids arrange sliced olives, green peppers, mushrooms,
pepperoni, and other things on English muffins brushed with tomato sauce. Top
with grated cheese for "hair" and heat in the microwave or oven until
the cheese melts.
Source:
University of Illinois Extension Food for Thought Newsletter
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