Healthy Halloween

Healthy Halloween—It doesn’t have to be so scary!

Halloween is traditionally a time for treats, and tricks—many of which may not be wholesome choices. With candy lurking behind every jack-o-lantern and cobweb, it can be easy to have a sugar overload. But good news! You can have your goodies and eat them, too!

§  Dark Chocolate Covered Raisins

§  100-calorie Packs

§  Mini bags of Popcorn

§  Pretzels

§  Fruit snacks—gummy treats, fruit leather, fruit juice boxes

§  Nuts

§  Dark Chocolate

§  Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

§  Raisins

§  Peanut Butter Crackers

§  Sugar-Free Gum

§  Temporary Tattoos

§  Plastic skeletons

§  Mini Cans of Playdoh

§  Stickers

§  Pencils or Pens

§  Halloween jewelry like spider or bug rings

§  Coloring books and crayons

§  Plastic whistles

§  Other Halloween trinkets

§  Brightly-colored toothbrushes

§  Halloween Plastic Cups

Here are some helpful tips for a healthy Halloween from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

§  A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.

§  Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils

§  Wait until children are home to sort and check treats

§  Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween

§  Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items

One last healthful treat—a recipe for caramel apple dip. This yummy, sweet snack is an easier way to enjoy the flavors of fall than the classic, sticky-apple-on-a-stick treat. Enjoy this dip with sliced apples, pretzels, or whole-wheat crackers!

Choose juicy, firm apples to dip—and leave the skin on to retain all the wholesome fiber and nutrients!

Caramel Apple Dip Recipe

1 8 oz. package low-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel) or whipped cream cheese, at room temperature

1/4 cup non-fat vanilla yogurt

1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

4 medium crisp and juicy eating apples (such as Granny Smith, Gala, or Golden Delicious) sliced with the skin on

Juice of one or two lemons

Directions:

Combine the cream cheese, yogurt and brown sugar in a small

mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth.

     Refrigerate until ready to serve. Toss apple slices with lemon

     Juice to prevent browning. Serve dip with apple slices.

Makes 8 servings (2 tablespoons of the dip and half of an apple each)

Per serving: 141 calories, 7 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 22 mg cholesterol, 18 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein, 7% vitamin A, 5% vitamin C, 4% calcium, 2% iron

Source:  http://stephaniegallagher.suite101.com/caramel-apple-dip-a32062#ixzz1YsmhyiXI