What’s better than candy at Halloween time?
As we saw in last Friday’s HEALTHY HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN tip, there are some ways you can minimize the potential dangers when you stock up in advance with candy for the wee, treat-seeking beggars who will soon be knocking on your door. Moving further along, today let’s consider, instead, good alternative, non-candy treats that will allow you to bypass entirely those risky, refined carbohydrate hazards.
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>>> Plan to hand out more wholesome treats <<<
“Animal crackers, mini rice cereal or granola bars, whole grain cheddar cheese crackers and sugar-free hot chocolate packets make good treats,” suggests Kristi King, senior pediatric dietitian at Texas Children’s Hospital. Vandana Sheth, a registered dietitian based in California, recommends pretzels, apples, tangerines, fruit leathers or a trail mix of whole grain cereals. She also says that, if given a choice, kids will usually opt for cool toys over candy and, therefore, mentions pencils, erasers, stickers, temporary tattoos, glow sticks and small Play Doh containers as additional alternates for candy. “Often [children’s] excitement is more so in the collecting than in the consuming of treats,” Sheth observes.
>>> Think about possible food allergies before you buy <<<
Consider, perhaps, taking part in The Teal Pumpkin Project™ or at least following its guidelines when you purchase your treats. Launched as a national campaign by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) in 2014, this is an effort to raise awareness of food allergies by promoting inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season. For further details you can visit their website: http://www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumpkin-project#.VjfFvdKrTct
So … think twice before you invest in a big bag of the same tired, old candy bars. What other treats might your little holiday visitors appreciate even more? To make your choices easier, I have assembled to share with you a list of the non-candy treats that nutrition experts most often recommend:
ALL-TIME TOP 24 ALTERNATIVE HALLOWEEN TREATS
- individual packages of nuts, raisins or whole grain trail mix
- single-serving packs of cashews, sunflower or pumpkin seeds
- personal-size microwave popcorn servings
- gluten-free, sugarless chewing gum packs
- Goldfish or other snack crackers, individually packaged
- sugar-free hot chocolate or cocoa beverage mix envelopes
- single servings of graham crackers, Teddy Grahams or animal crackers
- prepackaged Rice Krispie or other cereal/nutrition bars
- sealed, single-portion packets of cheese and crackers
- fruit leathers or dried fruit packets
- coupons to redeem for a small cone from your local yogurt shop
- holiday-themed party favors
- pencils, pens, markers and/or erasers
- little plastic Halloween toys or jewelry
- trading cards and/or playing cards
- stickers or temporary tattoos
- glow sticks
- small boxes of crayons
- coins/currency/cash
- bottles of bubble fluid with wands
- mini-notepads
- bookmarks
- stencils
- noisemakers, kazoos or whistles
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And please remember to visit the HEALTHY HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN site again tomorrow, when we will look at the best way to prepare your own young trick-or-treaters in advance … before they ever hit the street in search of Halloween treasure.