We all know how sinfully delicious Halloween can be. Your little goblins may go wild for treats on October 31st, but that doesn't mean you, and your family's healthy diet have to!
Here are six tips from the experts at the Pritikin Longevity Center for having a healthy Halloween:
- Fuel them up before they go trick-or-treating: Before they head out the door, try to get them to relax (we know this isn't easy!) and sit down to dinner, or, at least, a fruit plate and a cup of yogurt. That way, their appetites for the rest of the evening will be curbed, somewhat. (Maybe they'll be happy with five or six little chocolates, not 16.)
- Lighten up: It's important to allow some junk - in moderation.
- Meter it out: On Halloween night, allow a few candies, then put the bag in the pantry, and after a few days, the kids will forget about it. But, if they haven't forgotten about their stash in the pantry, dole out one or two treats at a time, and always in combination with a healthy snack or meal. When the excitement over the candy has waned (and before you start digging into them yourself!), throw them away or take them to a homeless shelter.
- Branch out: Trick-or-treaters clamor for non-food goodies, too. Look in the party aisle for treats like glow stick necklaces (your little neighborhood princesses will love you!), spider rings, stickers, decorative pencils, stamps, notepads, erasers, balloons, play tattoos, game cards, and more. Better yet, buy treats that encourage kids to be physically active, like little bouncy balls, Frisbees, jump ropes, hacky sacks, and sidewalk chalk for drawing hopscotch or foursquare games.
- Channel your inner ‘Martha Stewart': Set up on your front lawn arts-and-crafts activities like face painting and pumpkin decorating. Who knows? The wee ones may end up liking your home more than anything else on Halloween night.
- Plan a party that's focused more on fun and less on food: Set up dunking for apples, a costume/dance contest, a pumpkin hunt, pinning a heart on a scarecrow, or musical chairs. (Instead of chairs, use big pumpkins.) And, of course, they never tire of running from the big bad boogie man (you dressed up in a creepy costume) in a game of Halloween hide and seek. Lots of calories burned. Lots of fun!
Source: Pritikin Longevity Center
Posted October 12, 2012
