Trick or Treat- Healthy Halloween alternatives
Traditional Halloween celebrations, complete with costumes, treats, neighborhood participation and fun, can also be safe and healthy. While alternative fall festival events are certainly a great way to celebrate, there will always be die-hard Halloween, trick-or-treat fans. If you fall in that category, we’ve come up with some simple, safe, and healthy Halloween tips:
Alternatives to candy, candy, candy:
- Instead of candy, hand out individual serving sizes of cereal, dried fruit, pretzels, nuts, sunflower seeds, candy corn, trail mix, fruit snacks or mini marshmallows. Buy the pre-packed individual servings rather than packaging them yourselves; most children are told not to eat anything that isn’t sealed.
- Prepare a Halloween craft kit to hand out to your trick-or-treaters. Buy pre-cut foam door hangers or visors and foam Halloween stickers; bag up the item and some stickers for each visitor. Make small photo frames out of wooden craft sticks and bag with Halloween stickers.
- If you are very creative or have children too old to trick-or-treat but who want to play a part, set up face painting or rub-on tattoo stations in your front yard for your Halloween guests.
Costume Safety:
- If your child wears a mask, make sure they can easily see while wearing it. Using make-up or hats may help your child see where they are going and what is around them better.
- Make sure that all costumes, wigs or hats clearly state that they are flame resistant.
- Make sure the costumes are reflective or buy reflective tape and put on the costumes.
- Your child should be comfortable in their costume and be able to walk easily in it. Don’t get a costume that is too long, too cumbersome or too difficult to wear.
Road Safety Tips:
- Younger children should always have an adult or two to accompany them on their rounds. To get into the spirit of the occasion, grown-ups might also want to dress up.
- If older children are going without adult supervision, make sure that their route is pre-planned and pre-approved, and set a time to return home. They should always stay together as a group and carry a cell phone.
- Make sure, whether chaperoned or not, that all trick-or-treaters understand safe and appropriate behavior.
- All trick-or-treaters should carry a flashlight or even a light stick.
- Only go to homes that have an outdoor light on and are obviously participating in the holiday.
- Do not go into a stranger’s home or car for a treat.
- If there are sidewalks, use them. Do not cross yards or use alleys.
- Walk! No bikes, skateboards or rollerblades!
- Don’t walk near candles or luminaries.
Candy Tips:
- Start the evening’s festivities with a nutritious dinner!
- Don’t sample the candy while trick-or-treating – wait until you get home.
- Once home, examine all treats. Make sure seals haven’t been opened and there is nothing suspicious about your treasure before eating.
- Eat only factory wrapped treats. If you get homemade goodies, only eat them if you know who gave them to you well.
- Allow your child to choose two or three pieces of candy to eat Halloween evening. Decide how many pieces a day will be allowed.
- Do not pack candy in school lunches.
- For children who can’t have much sugar, offer to trade their candy for money or some other treat.
