When I was a kid, I’d take off my witch’s hat, pirate girl wig or angel wings and size up my sweet Halloween loot. Chocolate bars earned the highest value and candy corns the very least. Temporary tattoos and spooky pencils even ranked higher than candy corn. This year, according to the National Retail Foundation’s 2014 Halloween Consumer Spending Survey, we’ll spend over $2 billion on candy.
So, how do registered dietitians handle the candy fest? Here are some scary good tips for a healthier Halloween.
Good goblin’
Serve those zombies a well-balanced dinner so they aren’t as tempted to dive into collected candies right away.
"Try a 'Mini Mummy Pizza' made on whole-wheat English muffins with pizza sauce, slices of protein-packed mozzarella cheese and sliced olives for the eyes." — Lanier Dabruzzi, registered dietitian, Atlanta, Southeast Dairy Association
"Why not break up the candy monopoly and include a bit of fall plant-based flavor in your Halloween menu? Think stuffed acorn squash with quinoa, carrots with hummus in a hollowed-out mini pumpkin, and baked apples with cinnamon." — Sharon Palmer, registered dietitian and author of "Plant-Powered for Life"
Healthier treats
Fun-size candy bars come portion controlled, but those small bars may not include important information to detect possible allergens.
"Miniature forms of candy do not contain a listing of ingredients on the individual package. These ingredients can be found on the larger package." – Jill Castle, registered dietitian, food allergy expert
Another way to limit sugar intake is to give candy that takes longer to eat. "These include hard candies, fruit leather, licorice, lollipops, licorice and gum." — Julie Upton, registered dietitian at Appetite for Health.com
Savor the sweets
Happily, dietitians don’t suggest costuming carrots as candy. Halloween is a good time to teach kids how to splurge in moderation.
"Instead of trick-or-treating with the largest bag you can find, use a small plastic pumpkin so the kids fill their buckets but bring home less." — Marisa Moore, Atlanta registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
"I do think it is important to keep treats from being forbidden fruit, or they become that much more attractive and desirable." — Alice Henneman, registered dietitian, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension
"After Halloween, put leftover candy away and out of sight. Combine candy with whole-grain cereal and nuts for a homemade trail mix that contains protein and fiber." — Jessica Cox, registered dietitian, eMeals.com
