My colleague, Melinda Hemmelgarn, Former Resource Network Coordinator with University of Missouri Extension in Columbia, shared some thoughts about healthy trick or treating that I believe you will enjoy. 

Halloween is one of Melinda’s favorite holidays. In the past she has dressed up like a gypsy and tells kids’ fortunes looking into a big black bowling ball. 

She says, “It’s a wonderful time to see the future: I tell the kids I see lots of people who love them; I see them exercising, eating lots of healthy foods, and graduating from high school; I see kids growing up healthy and strong; doing well in school, getting wonderful grades and completing assignments.

” For Halloween parties, Melinda suggests to focus on a harvest theme. Offer kids fruits and vegetables of the season: pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, hot apple cider, popcorn, or baked apples. For a party activity try pumpkin decorating or pinning a heart on a scarecrow. Face painting and temporary tattoos also are great activities. For fun, let the children paint you! 

For trick or treat bags, try erasers, money (pennies are heavy and jingle like a chain); pencils, markers, crayons, paint brushes, pages from coloring books, stickers, toothbrushes, bookmarks, used books, whistles, etc. While some treats fit all ages, small items need to be limited to kids over age 3. 

Healthy foods for the ghosts and goblins could be cereal bars, individual juice drinks or pudding, popcorn, apples, bananas, oranges, and snack packets or raisins, peanuts, cereal, or crackers and cheese. 

If you don’t want to break tradition and believe candy is the best treat, choose candies that are lower in fat. Candy should not be forbidden and restricted. Children must learn about moderation and frequency so that we don’t teach patterns of hoarding or becoming obsessed. As parents we must make sure that children know when sweets are appropriate in their diet. Perhaps it’s as part of a certain meal, as a snack with a fruit, etc. Each family must define their guidelines and all family members abide. 

We also must teach that tooth brushing and flossing are extremely important after eating sweets or any foods that stick to the teeth. Candies do far more damage to our teeth than they do to wrecking our diet or behavior.