Healthy Halloween Treats & Tips

With Halloween just around the corner, here are a few tips from the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics to maintain a healthy and happy holiday.

1. Balance candy with healthier options by allowing them to fill up on the healthier options first.
2. Practice portion control by serving a small portion of candy.
3. Serve the portioned amount of candy instead of leaving the candy out to regulate the amount of candy consumed.
4. Get up & moving to ensure the party is about a balance of activities, including games and physical activities. Karen Ansel, MS, RDN, CDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests playing “Monster Tag” with one child as the monster and the other as the zombie once tagged.
5. Share healthier treats. The Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics makes the following suggestions:
6. Whole-grain cheddar flavored crackers
7. Fruit snacks made with 100-percent fruit with added vitamin C
8. Fruit leathers made with 100-percent fruit
9. Sugar-free gum
10. Animal-shaped graham crackers made without trans fat
11. Mini rice cereal treat bars
12. Cereal bars made with real fruit
13. Individual fruit cups
14. Mini 100-percent fruit juice boxes
15. Low-fat pudding cups
16. Baked, unsalted bags of pretzels
17. Make healthier treats. Sarah Krieger, MPH, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, suggests the following healthy, Halloween-themed snacks:
18. Smoothies made with low-fat vanilla yogurt, canned pumpkin, cinnamon, banana and ice
19. Apple slices with a fruit dip made with yogurt mixed with canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice
20. Warm apple cider with cinnamon sticks
21. Get creative with healthier treats. Consider the following fun recipes from HelloFresh:
22. Apple Monsters
23. Boooo-nana Ghosts
24. Watermelon Head
25. Jack O’Apples
26. Jack O’Oranges
27. Creepy Crawly Toasts
28. Apple Chips
29. Gluten-Free Pumpkin Quiche

To see the recipes and directions for the HelloFresh Halloween recipes, including the Jack O’Oranges in the picture, click here. For additional tips and advice, visit www.eatright.org.

Have a happy and healthy Halloween, everyone!