A Healthier Halloween?
Halloween is traditionally known for its high-calorie candy “treats.” With the rising incidence of obesity among children (not to mention adults), now may be the time to rethink what you hand out this holiday:
1. Avoid giving out any candy combination of milk or white chocolate with nuts or peanut butter – they rank highest in calories.
2. Chocolate with mint or marshmallows has fewer calories, as do caramels and non-chocolate candy such as licorice, taffy, lollipops and flavored fruit candies. However, these are cavity-makers and not very nutritious.
3. Consider giving out small squares of dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa, little boxes of organic raisins, organic granola bars, organic fruit wraps or snack-size bags of air-popped popcorn.
While whole, fresh fruit is a healthy snack choice, skip this on Halloween – chances are some parents will throw it away as a safety precaution.
