Q: With Halloween around the corner, can you suggest ways for my kids to understand healthy eating choices, but still have fun?
A: Now is the perfect time to get the kids together for some spooky, fright-filled snack-making and cooking.
Of course, Halloween is known to be a sugar-laden candy fest, a once-a-year occasion, and this is also a perfect opportunity to talk to your kids about moderation and healthy eating. Explain to them that candy, like many of our other favorite treats, is a "sometimes" food.
"Sometimes" foods, or treats, are not foods we eat every day because they don’t give our bodies the nutrients we need to grow and stay healthy. We enjoy “sometimes" foods on special occasions, and because we enjoy them only once in awhile, it makes them that much more special.
Now, nobody wants to rain on any kid’s candy parade, but not all Halloween treats have to be extremely high in sugar.
To keep things kid-friendly and ward off any candy battles, make up for the lost sugar by upping the fun factor! Here are a few suggestions for a frightfully delicious (and nutritious) Halloween-themed meal that kids and adults can agree upon:
Make Yummy Mummy Pizzas on whole-grain English muffins and explain to your kids that whole grains help fill their bellies with benefit and also provide the energy they need to play. Add a few chopped veggies and hide them as you wrap your mummy pizzas with pieces of reduced-fat string cheese.
To get a little more calcium, make Candy Corn Parfaits and mention the importance of dairy and other calcium-rich foods. Dairy and calcium help keep bones strong so they are resistant to falls and injuries.
To help the kids fill half their plate with fruits and vegetables, let them dunk a few fresh vegetables in Critter Crostini; research shows that when kids are offered vegetables with an accompaniment (such as cheese, a dip or salad dressing), they enjoy the vegetables more and will consume a greater quantity and variety.
Go ahead and give in to their sweet tooth by making Frozen Banana Ghosts. Fruit makes a great side dish, dessert or snack since the natural sweetness can satisfy cravings while also providing important nutrients like potassium, vitamin C and fiber.
With such a healthy menu, there certainly is room to round out the meal with dessert. This is the perfect opportunity to explain that when the majority of our food choices are healthy, there is room in a balanced and healthy diet for a yummy chocolate treat such as spooky Halloween cupcakes!
Don’t be afraid this Halloween season to allow the kids to enjoy the sweet holiday. Teach them a few things about moderation and a balanced diet, and get them involved in Halloween treat-making.
Research shows that kids are more likely to try foods they helped to make, so get their hands involved in something Halloween-themed and fun that's also something nutritious and delicious!
(The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.)
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