Keeping Halloween Healthy

By Donna Stark

Are you starting to get spooked thinking about Halloween? Maybe not from the goblins coming to your door or the witches flying around your neighborhood, but from all of those sugary treats and party foods instead? I'm sure your children are having fun counting down the days until they can pull out their costumes, but there is little to no fun for you. All you can think about is how to make all of the piles of candy in your house disappear without your little ones noticing. Well, maybe this year you won't have to come up with any stories to explain the missing treats. With a little creativity, you can easily make Halloween a lot healthier!

Tips for a Healthier Halloween

Incorporating healthy options into one of the unhealthiest holidays may seem like a monumental task, but it's actually quite easy! And it doesn't matter if your children are trick-or-treating or are heading to a costume party ... wise choices will follow them anywhere. Take a look at the following suggestions.

• Eat first - Avoid the temptation of eating everything in sight! Make a nutritious and filling meal before everyone heads out to reduce the candy cravings and dessert table raids. Doing so will also help everyone avoid the urge to overindulge.
• Keep the pillowcase on the bed - Nobody, and I repeat, nobody needs the amount of candy that can fill a standard pillowcase. So encourage your child to leave it on their bed and choose a smaller container for them to use. Also, stress the importance of taking only one piece of candy from each home!
• Serve healthy snacks for parties - If you are hosting a party or have been asked to bring some treats, use this opportunity to focus on nutrition! Serve platters of fruit and raw vegetables, and replace those creamy dips with hummus or homemade guacamole.
• Rethink the drink - It can be awfully scary to find out how much sugar is in sodas and other sweetened beverages, so do yourself and those you love a favor and skip them altogether! Offer water or unsweetened tea, or make your own healthy punch from sparkling water and plenty of fruit slices.

Healthy Halloween

Have no fear! With just a few small changes, Halloween can be a lot healthier than years past. And if you have a lot of excess candy, find a place to donate it! It's the perfect way to share the fun (and the calories!)

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Jacksonville, Fla.