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Healthier Halloween treats
Categories: Holidays, Eating & Nutrition
My husband and I share the personal opinion that we're doing our kids a favor by eating their Halloween candy at night. After all, they don't need the sugar, right? Of course, neither do we, but we don't usually acknowledge that fact while fighting over the last mini-Snickers bar.
If our neighbors start handing out treats like those suggested in this gallery from Forbes, there wouldn't be any arguments, because there wouldn't be anything good to fight over. But these treats are healthier for kids, so they're worth taking a look at. For instance, Forbes recommends avoiding:
And instead trying one of these alternatives:
Three hundred and sixty four days a year, I preach and practice good nutrition. My kids only get Halloween night to go crazy on their candy, and after that, I get to dole out their treats. The bucket disappears completely after a few days. (They're young, I can get away with this.) So the candy bars and caramels don't really bother me that much for one night.
What do you think about this trend of healthier Halloween treats? Will you be doling out good-for-you goodies, or giving away the good stuff?
If our neighbors start handing out treats like those suggested in this gallery from Forbes, there wouldn't be any arguments, because there wouldn't be anything good to fight over. But these treats are healthier for kids, so they're worth taking a look at. For instance, Forbes recommends avoiding:
- sticky candy, like caramels
- snack cakes
- full-sized candy bars
And instead trying one of these alternatives:
- sugar-free gum and candy
- dark chocolate
- chocolate-covered fruit (like raisins)
- fruit leather or fruit bars
- toys
- 100-calorie snack packs
Three hundred and sixty four days a year, I preach and practice good nutrition. My kids only get Halloween night to go crazy on their candy, and after that, I get to dole out their treats. The bucket disappears completely after a few days. (They're young, I can get away with this.) So the candy bars and caramels don't really bother me that much for one night.
What do you think about this trend of healthier Halloween treats? Will you be doling out good-for-you goodies, or giving away the good stuff?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Karen 10-13-2008 @ 10:29AM
Pffft!
I'd prefer my children have real sugar over asparame and other artificial sweeteners so no sugar free products please. The toys go directly into the trash.
The 100 calorie snack packs would go into my lunch and fruit leather (unless it is the real kind) is usually a sticky sugary treat.
Just buy the candy for goodness sake. Give it to the kids. Leave it to their parents to make decision on what they eat and if you really have that hard of a time with the idea, turn out your light and don't participate.
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Jess 10-13-2008 @ 10:48PM
I have always been against health-nuttiness on Halloween, but this year I am reversing my decision. There is so much in the news about childhood obesity, it's really gotten to the point that we can't just look the other way, even for one day, while the kids down 8000 calories of candy (no exaggeration; that's the average kid's Halloween haul).
So I've decided to be healthy and handout silly string, glow sticks, stickers, and fake rats and spiders. I would be thrilled if, in a few years, my kid comes home with a bag of vampire teeth and stationery and only a few Milky Ways.
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