Going trick-or-treating is a highlight of the year for most kids and, let’s be serious, many adults too. After it’s the one night of the year where you get to wear a cool creative costume and fill up on Halloween candy to your heart’s content (or until Mom says, “No more.”)
Unfortunately, eating too much candy can build up plaque, which leads to cavities and other health problems. The American Heart Association recommends that children eat or drink less than 25 grams of added sugar a day. On Halloween, the average trick-or-treater takes home candy that contains more than 600 grams of sugar! That’s nearly three cups of sugar being consumed in a very short amount of time.
In a previous blog we discussed how to limit Halloween candy and other preventative measures to help maintain oral hygiene during the sweets-filled holiday season. It’s especially important to begin educating children at an early age about how much sugar is in food and the damage it can do to their teeth. Offering healthy alternatives can keep your family from reaching into the candy jar or bag, and increasing the chances for those dreaded post-Halloween cavities. To help prepare for the holiday here are five alternatives to Halloween candy:
Make fruit and veggies fun
Halloween candy doesn’t have to be the only Halloween treat that’s fun! Get creative with fruits and vegetables and watch people line up for your spooky creations. Make a veggie skeleton with carrots, celery, bell peppers and broccoli. Use the curve of the chopped bell pepper for ribs, celery for legs, broccoli for feet and a cup of ranch dip for the skeleton’s face. Try apple slices with peanut butter and mini marshmallows. Place the marshmallows in-between two apple slices to create a tasty grin. This treat can also serve as a reminder to brush your teeth after eating sweets!
Give away toys
Buying a big bag of Halloween candy for trick-or-treaters often becomes a temptation that has you sneaking several pieces for yourself. To keep the sneaking of sweets to a minimum consider giving out something other than candy this Halloween. Inexpensive options include temporary tattoos, fake bugs and glow sticks.
Host a pumpkin decorating contest
Decorating pumpkins is a fun activity for all ages and it can be a great alternative to trick-or-treating. Make it into a competition and see who can paint or carve the most creative jack-o-lantern. Offer prizes and serve your fun fruit and veggie creations for hors d’oeuvres.
Build a homemade piñata
Making a homemade piñata may sound like a lot of work but with some paper mache skills and a little paint, anyone can do it! Blow up a balloon and use it as your base of the piñata. Use paper mache mix and newspaper to cover the balloon, wait for it to dry and then pop the balloon from the bottom. You can then paint it to make a ghost, a pumpkin or anything else you can imagine. Fill the piñata with Halloween toys or confetti and get the blindfold and stick ready!
Visit a pumpkin patch
There are pumpkin patches with a variety of outdoor activities and plenty of healthy food alternatives, like apple stands. Spend time walking through a maze or feeding animals at the petting zoo. Being outdoors in the fresh air is a great distraction from sugary Halloween temptations.