Healthier Halloween Treats

Every year adults are faced with the challenge of trying to dole out healthy snacks to the expectant children that come to their door or to the ones that attend a Halloween party. Here are some ideas for some treats that are a little lower in sugar, fat, calories and sodium than the usual one that are typically given out to children on this holiday.

Xylitol Gum or Candies.  These candies are available under the brand names of Spry , Xyla, Ice Chips, SparX, and Dr. John’s and are made of pure xylitol. Xylitol is a natural calorie-free sweetener that  actually has been proven to fight gum disease, unlike the  pure cane sugar that is found in most traditional Halloween candies.

Kale Chips.  Kale chips are healthy, easy to make and taste great. Simply take any type of kale and tear it up into potato chip sized pieces.  You can use curly Kale but flat kale works the bests.  Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.  Spread the kale pieces on a flat baking sheet. You can sprinkle with melted coconut oil, olive oil and any spice or flavoring you need. Bake until they are dried out and crispy. You can also use a dehydrator to make this type of healthy chip that is rich in minerals and nutrients.

String Cheese.  String cheese is a low –calorie healthy snack that is high in protein and calcium and good for building healthy bones and teeth. Just one stick is usually only about 80 calories and the protein and fat in cheese help slow down the sugars ingested from eating candy. The only thing problematic about handing out cheese is that it should be refrigerated until the very last minute before you hand it out at the door to prevent spoilage.

Peanuts.   Peanuts are a good treat to give out at a Halloween party where you know that no child attending is allergic to them. It is not really a good idea any more to give out any type of nut as a Halloween treat during Trick Or Treating because of the fact that so many children are allergic to them nowadays. However if you have the “all clear” from other parents that nobody attending is allergic to nuts, it is good to know that peanuts are rich in omega-3 acids that are essential for nurturing brain development and protein for building strong bones and teeth.

Trail Mix. Thanks to the advanced attitudes towards nutrition by many moms nowadays, Trail Mix is more familiar to children and for many it is a treat they look forward to having in their goodie bags.  You can buy healthy blends of trail mix or you can make your own out of sunflower seeds, raisins and nuts.  You can also sweeten the mix with chocolate chips. Chocolate chips are healthier than you think because they contain manganese, copper, magnesium and phosphorus.  Be aware too that many children might be allergic to the nuts in trail mix so it is better to hand them out in a controlled environment where you know the kids are not allergic.

Eating a nutritious healthy diet free of unhealthy fats, sugars and additives is important for both you and your child! For more information or to book a consultation about anti-aging, diet and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at  (416)-656- 8100.  We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.