Sweet Choices!! Healthy Halloween Tips
Halloween is here with all the ghouls, goblins, princesses and fairies … an evening of imagination and creativity … a world where fantasy and make believe come to life for a few hours … children of all ages immerse themselves into alter egos for the chance to gather the precious harvest of candy from the neighbourhood. In keeping with our belief of providing a healthy balance for our children in all aspects of their lives there are certain times of the year when healthy choices become more difficult to negotiate with our children … We are not suggesting treats be eliminated entirely, we all know that as a child we enjoyed that succulently sweet morsel of candy … but as with everything … moderation is the key … Unfortunately many of us have become programmed throughout our lives to associate certain celebrations with sweets and over indulgence … Perhaps thinking “outside the box” regarding treats for the visitors to our doors on Halloween night may provide inspiration to continue to make positive healthy choices for our families throughout the year.
The following is an excerpt from an article on http://kidshealth.org/ … the complete article can be found at Healthy Halloween Hints. It offers suggestions for “snacking” and also alternatives for the trick or treaters. Happy Halloween everyone!! Be Safe!
“With the chance to dress up in costume and stock up on sweets, Halloween is the highlight of the year for many kids — from toddlers to teens.
But since its high season for candy, it can also be a frustrating time for parents who encourage kids to eat healthy foods and make sweets a limited part of a balanced and nutritious diet.
On the one hand, you want to let kids indulge and enjoy the holiday. On the other, you don’t want to undermine all the work you do the rest of the year maintaining a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. And you don’t want to confuse kids with mixed messages.”
