Yep, it’s that time again.  It seems like it should still be summer!  Oh well.  It’s time to get over that and do some planning for the holidays.  How are you going to approach Halloween this year?  Perhaps there are some healthy tips you can follow to support your efforts to improve your child’s health.

First, teach your kids that “treats” are at the top of the Food Guide Pyramid and can fit into a healthful meal after all the other food groups have been consumed. Eat candy as part of a well-balanced meal instead of as a snack between meals.

Second, have your children eat a good meal before they trick-or-treat. Serve your child a nutritious meal or snack before going trick-or-treating so he/she won’t dig into the bag of candy before he/she gets home.

Third, divide candy into weekly and daily portions - when it’s all gone, they need to wait until the next day or week. Let your kids pick out a few of their favorite candy pieces to have each day.   Remember, parents are in charge of what kids eat.

Finally, remember that large amounts of candy can be frozen to help with portion control. Halloween is a fun night for kids, so enjoy small portions of candy.

Here are some Halloween treat ideas that won’t spoil the nutritional balance in your life:

Cheese and cracker packages

Chewing gum

Boxes of animal crackers

Cheese sticks

Juice boxes (100% fruit juice)

Granola or cereal bars

Small packages of pretzels and popcorn

Small packages of sunflower seeds or nuts

Packages of instant cocoa mix

Peanuts in the shell

Individual cereal boxes

Balloons

Stickers

Crayons

Comic or coloring books

Toothbrush and toothpaste

Pencils

Silly Putty or bubbles

Whistles

Rubber spiders or worms