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Tricks for Nutritious Treats this Halloween

By: Beth Doriani | 10/28/2011

Happy Halloween (weekend)!

Although Halloween is still just around the corner, the festivities begin in earnest this afternoon. Confession: I used to believe that Halloween was simply a great opportunity to trade my usual uniform of black slacks for a gorilla suit. I now know that Halloween actually means bottomless candy bowls on many of my colleagues' desks.

That's what it's all about right? Eating as much candy as you possibly can for one day (or, let's be honest, the whole month). Well, that's what we as consumers are told to believe. From roughly August 14^th to October 31^st supermarkets overflow with aisles and isles of sugar in variety packs of orange and black.

And while a daily afternoon treat sounds like a good idea, it may not be the most nutritious choice. If you're like me, you may be torn between indulging in candy-eating extravaganzas or remaining sensible and healthy. For parents, this is even more of a concern. How do you successfully monitor your little one's sugar intake when trick-or-treating is a rite of passage?  Not surprisingly, sugar is a sensitive topic in a weight-conscious country. So what can we do?

1. Consult candy guides. Although many fun sized treats don't have nutrition information printed on the packaging, look at sites that offer a calorie count for many popular candies, like this one from Hungry Girl.
2. DIY. Thanks to the creativity of food bloggers and online recipe sources, there is no need to sacrifice flavor for fun. Read up for tips and consider making your own sweet and spooky treats. Zombie cupcakes anyone? Or unleash creativity in the kitchen and host a Halloween-themed dinner party featuring green gruel with eye balls or bone-chilling witches brew . When you make it yourself, you can always tailor recipes to fit specific dietary needs or restrictions.
3. Make activities the main event, not the candy. Let's not boycott Halloween because it may have nutritious downfalls, let's just emphasize other aspects of the holiday. As parents, focus on creating (or buying) a great costume. Gear up for the process of trick-or-treating instead of only celebrating the end result.

Above all, be safe and have fun. Make choices your body and your family will thank you for come November 1^st.

*recipes from epicurious.com

Posted in Agriculture and Nutrition