Trick or (healthy) treat—it’s easy!

By Ann Marie Fallon
October 26, 2007
Halloween doesn’t have to mean a sugar rush.

Halloween doesn’t have to mean a sugar rush. There are some healthier alternatives you can have on hand when the little or not-so-little ghosts and goblins arrive at your front door.

Nancy Huehnergarth, a Chappaqua mom and director of the New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance, suggests many alternatives children like: Halloween pencils, crayons, or erasers; Halloween magnets or stickers; temporary tattoos; creepy, crawly rubbery worms, spiders, etc; orange colored or pumpkin shaped note pads; orange, black, or Halloween balloons; and bubbles or whistles.

If you still want to provide a treat, Huehnergarth suggests healthier ones such as sugar-free gum; individually wrapped packages of raisins, other dried fruit, pretzels, or teddy bear graham crackers; individually wrapped packages of pumpkin or sunflower seeds for older children; and individual juice boxes of 100% fruit juice.

Please use extra caution while driving on Halloween evening!