Halloween, although lots of fun, comes with nutritional challenges. Here we take your top four Halloween nutrition nightmares and give you tried-and-true solutions.
Problem #1 – Halloween night is so busy that we end up skipping dinner and eat candy instead.
Solution: Eat a balanced dinner before trick or treating. Even if it’s four o’clock, serve a meal with a whole grain, a protein, and vegetables (quick ideas are a grilled cheese sandwich on whole grain bread and a side of veggies, or a hearty slow cooker soup). A full belly means your child can appreciate the task at hand instead of trying to calm hunger pangs by eating chocolates from his trick or treat bag.
Problem #2 – All the food at Halloween parties is unhealthy, and it starts an already treat-filled holiday off on the wrong foot.
Solution: You know you (and your kids) will get plenty of treats on Halloween, so why not make a healthier dish to bring to a party? Some “spooky” sides include:
- A Frankenstein or Jack O’ Lantern veggie platter with avocado hummus. Find inspiration online to make a Frankenstein face using veggies like olives, sugar snap peas, carrots, cucumbers, and green pepper. Use baby carrots, broccoli, and olives to create a Jack O’ Lantern platter.
- A Frankenstein head dip made out of guacamole, with black beans for hair and eyes, and carrots and blue tortilla chips for dipping.
- In the middle of a veggie tray, use a small hollowed out pumpkin to serve your dip – hummus, ranch dip made with greek yogurt, or a pumpkin-based dip for a seasonal surprise.
Problem #3 – My kids get so much candy. How can I let them enjoy treats without overdoing it?
Solution: We recommend letting your kids eat some candy (check out our post ‘Junk’ Foods – and when your kids should have them!), but you should set limits, or help your kids set their own limits if they’re old enough. For older kids, it’s important they realize there are consequences if they eat too much candy – an upset stomach, a bad night’s sleep, feeling sluggish and tired the next day at school or at sports, and over time, weight gain.
Give your kids a couple of days to eat an agreed-upon number of candies or chocolates daily. After that, you have several options:
- Put the candy in a “treat cupboard” and enjoy a few occasionally (for example, family movie nights)
- Have your kids “trade” their remaining candy for a coveted toy, book, or outing, then you can either
- Donate the candy (some groups put together candy “care packages” for military overseas)
- Bring it to your office and put it in a communal area (far from your own temptation)
- Throw it out
Problem #4 – I’ve been eating healthy for a while… and now my house is full of Halloween candy that I can’t stop eating.
Solution: Try any of the following tricks to help you indulge without guilt:
- Don’t buy your candy weeks in advance! Buy as late as you can while ensuring stores won’t sell out. The less time candy spends sitting around your house, the less likely you are to eat it.
- Pick a favorite treat and allow yourself to eat one or two pieces every day for a week – then stop, or this newfound habit will extend into Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then Valentine’s Day… you get the picture.
- Instead of saving your treat for the evening (when you’re less likely to burn it off and more likely to overindulge), savor it earlier in the day.
- If you don’t think you can handle having any candy in the house, buy something else for trick or treaters, like those mini bags of pretzels or something non-food like stickers or pencils (trust us, parents will love you!)
Halloween is a challenge for anyone sticking with a healthy lifestyle. Use these tricks and plan ahead, and your Halloween won’t be any scarier than your neighbor’s decorations.
Have you tried any of these healthy eating tips on how to have a healthy Halloween? Which have you found the most effective? Share your experiences in the comments section!