Halloween is one of every child's favorite holidays. It is so much fun to dress up, go trick-or-treating, and then of course, eat all the delicious candy that you get. Candy is definitly one of the best things about Halloween from the point-of-view of the child, but from the parent's perspective, it can get to be too much. If you are planning on having your own "spooktacular" Halloween party but want to minimize the sugar, try some of these fun and festive alternatives:
1. Instead of cupcakes, try pumpkin muffins. You can purchase easy-to-make pumpkin muffin mix and let the children decorate them themselves with a little frosting and just a bit of sprinkles. The children still get to enjoy the fun of cupcakes but with a lot less sugar.
2. Instead of ice cream, try pumpkin pudding. Make plain vanilla pudding (you can even buy the sugar free or reduced fat variety) and simply mix in some pumpkin pie mix. How much you use is completely up to you and your tastes. You can even let the kids mix in their own pumpkin flavoring. Add some raisins to sweeten the snack.
3. How about some Jack-O-Lantern dip? Take a few small pumpkins, carve out the insides, and use it as a serving bowl for your favorite dip. You could put humus inside and serve with veggies or try yogurt for fruit dipping. This way you are providing a healthy snack but in a really fun way!
4. Go "Boo-nanas!" Dip peeled bananas in orange juice, then roll in shredded coconut to make white ghosts. Add small raisins or chocolate chips for eyes, then insert wooden craft stick for a handle (so the ghosts can flit about hauntingly). Serve as-is or frozen.
5. Try some "Sand-witches." Spook up ordinary sandwiches by making them into Halloween shapes with cookie cutters. Choose whole-wheat bread and healthy fillings such as natural peanut butter, fruit preserves, turkey slices, and so on.
When it comes to Halloween, there are many ways to get creative and have a lot of fun without a lot of sugar. And chances are, if you make it fun and spooky, the children will never even miss the candy.
If you have anymore suggestions, feel free to post them as a comment to share with fellow readers! Everyone have a safe and healthy Halloween!
