Healthy Halloween!!

It’s Halloween Week and that means 3 things; candy, candy & candy! Sweets and treats will be tempting your kids (and you, too!) for weeks to come. As with many things in life, they are best served in moderation. Once your kids are back from their neighborhood prowl, remember that one of the healthiest ways to deal with the candy that comes home is to manage its consumption. To avoid arguments when the temptation of candy is staring them in the face, set up the rules with the kids first, before they head out the door to trick-or-treat. Some good tricks that seem to help:

• Send them out with tummies full of a warm and healthy dinner so they don't come home starved or, worse, end up eating candy along the way.
• Be a sport and allow a little extra on Halloween night.
• Store candy out of sight, such as in a kitchen cupboard that only you can reach.
• Limit candy to one a day at an agreed-upon time, such as with a glass of milk as an after-school snack, or for dessert at dinner.

Are you having a Halloween party this year? If so – here’s a couple of healthy snack ideas:

BooNanas
Slice bananas width wise in half.
Stick a popsicle stick into the flat end lengthwise.
Dip them in orange juice and then into shredded coconut.
Press raisins onto them to make eyes

Black & Orange Dip
Place black bean dip into a bowl.
Cut Orange Bell Peppers into triangle, rectangle and crescent shapes.
Use triangles as eyes and a nose, crescent as a mouth to make a face in the dip.
Arrange Sweet potato chips and orange pepper strips around a large plate with bowl of black bean dip in center.

Remember to have a SAFE Halloween. Escort your kids or know where they are at all times. Lend them your cell phone and keep in touch. Make sure they have reflective costumes and watch for cars. Most of all – make sure you have fun!!

Diana