There’s more to Halloween than candy. There’s dressing up, having fun with friends, playing games and doing crafts. With so many celebrations throughout the year, it’s important to enjoy each one without going overboard. Here are some frightfully fabulous ideas to make it a safe and fun holiday.

Halloween Parties

Savor the Flavor. At the party serve no more than one sugary/high fat item. Provide mostly healthier party snacks and non-food goodies.

BOOgy down!! Instead of a sit down & eat party, get up and go with the following activities:

• Ghost sack races
• Costume parades
• Pin the nose on the witch
• Bobbing for apples (they can eat it as a healthy snack)

Keep them Spellbound. Shift children’s focus away from candy to:

• Reading & writing Halloween stories
• Making slime
• Making masks out of paper plates
• Acting out short plays
• Running a haunted house for their friends

Make them look spooktacularly delicious! Use Halloween-themed cookie cutters to make sandwiches or fruit more interesting. Decorate the room, serve food with creepy plates, napkins, cups or straws, and design and fill treat bags with Chex Mix or other healthier snack foods.

Healthier Trick or Treating Options

For younger kids, try small toys like:

• Temporary tattoos or stickers
• Super bouncy balls
• Colorful Pencils

For candy try:

• Sugar-free gum
• Fat free candy like fruit smacks/gummies, SweetTarts, Smarties, Twizzlers, Tootsie Rolls or Skittles
• Lower-fat chocolate candies like York Peppermint Patties, 3Musketeers or Junior Mints
• Try giving out the smallest size of candy (the smaller the bar/package, the lower the fat and calories.)

On Halloween Night

• Make sure children eat a healthy meal before they go trick-or-treating so that candy is a dessert and not dinner.
• Make sure children travel in groups and/or with an adult.
• Give children flashlights for added visibility
• Accessorize with glow-in-the-dark necklaces or bracelets or use reflective tape.
• Check collected items before allowing children to eat them.