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Tips, Tricks, and Treats for a Healthy Halloween
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Greetings!
Halloween is here, which officially starts what I call the OverEating Season. It begins with all the candy that bombards us in stores starting early October, and goes all the way through to New Year's. It's like running a gauntlet, and all your good intentions to eat healthy can fall apart at the first Snickers or M&Ms. Halloween is a challenge - those bite-sized candies are small, but they pack in a lot of calories. It's easy to take in way too much sugar with just a few pieces. I can relate! I've been in more sugar comas from too much candy more times than I can remember. But you CAN get through Halloween and hold onto your sanity and your waistline. Keep reading to find tips on making Halloween a healthy (or, at least less unhealthy) event. And always remember to go to the source of your True Strength! Have a Happy, Healthy, and Blessed Halloween! Warmly,
Elizabeth Madison,MA, CRC, CNWC
Registered Dietitian
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Worth the Burn?
Here are ten popular Halloween treats and what you need to do to walk them off! The choice is yours.
Treat Amount Calories Brisk Walking
Snickers fun size bar 80 27 min
Nerds fun size box 50 17 min
Tootsie Roll 3 mini rolls 33 11 min Life Saver Gummies 10 candies 130 44 min
M&M's fun size bag 73 25 min
Reese's Peanut 5 mini 220 74 min Butter Cup
Twizzlers 1 mini package 130 44 min
Butterfingers fun size bar 100 34 min
Skittles fun size bag 60 21 min
Candy Corn 20 pieces 150 50 min |
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8 Tips to Deal with Candy Overload
1. Set trick-or-treating curfews. Limit the number of hours your child is out trick-or-treating to help cut down on the amount of candy your child collects.
2. Serve lunch or dinner before your child goes out trick or treating. Eating a balanced meal before hand (one that includes veggies, protein, and complex carbohydrates) will help your kids fill up before they head out.
3. Negotiate how long the candy will remain in the house. Decide, for instance, that all candy is thrown out after one week. Once the novelty of eating the candy wears off, it often loses its appeal.
4. Keep candy out of sight (and out of mind). Store the candy in out-of-reach places like high cupboards or the freezer. Chances are your child (and maybe even you) will forget about it.
5. Get the kids moving. Make sure your child gets a little extra physical activity such as riding a bike or jumping rope to help compensate for all those Halloween Treats.
6. Before they are allowed to eat anything, sort through kid's candy together. Then throw away any candy that's not wrapped or has broken seals
7. Be a role model by consuming Halloween treats in moderation yourself. Also, it's a good idea to buy candy at the last minute and get rid of leftovers to avoid temptation.
8. Allow kids to enjoy their candy. Studies have shown that forbidding foods makes them more desirable. Just remember: Halloween only comes once a year
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Contact
Elizabeth M. Madison, Registered Dietitian
229-19 Merrick Boulevard, #226
Laurelton, New York 11413
718-598-0617
www.weightlosstransformation.com
elizabeth@weightlosstransformation.com |
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Be Inspired for Healthy Halloween: 10 Candy Alternatives
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Small bag of pretzels
Fruit cups
Mini bags of microwave
popcorn
100% Fruit-Roll Ups or Fruit leather
Mini granola bars
Boxes of raisins
100 % fruit juices or flavored water
Small package of nuts or sunflower seeds
100 calorie snacks
Mini dark chocolate bars with nuts
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| Recipe of the Month: Cinnamon and Sugar Roasted Pumpkin Seeds | 
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cups pumpkin seeds
- 2 tablespoons melted butter (or olive oil)
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Procedure:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Scoop out the inside of your pumpkin, and separate seeds from pulp. Don't worry if there's a little pulp left on the seeds when you roast them-it only adds flavor. Just remove the biggest pieces so that the seeds are easy to toss.
- In a bowl, toss the seeds with the melted butter, coating thoroughly. Add salt and seasonings.
- Spread seeds in one even layer across a greased baking sheet (or you can use a cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil).
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the seeds are golden brown. Stir the seeds every so often while they're baking, so that they toast evenly.
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Inspiration
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"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation."
- Brian Tracy
"Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.
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Proverbs 1:5 (NIV)
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