Tips for a Healthy Halloween

It is that time of year again when candy is popping up every where - at the office, parties, and lining the store aisles as Halloween is approaching fast. Is it possible to get through the holidays and avoid putting on some extra pounds, or still reaching your weight loss goals without taking all the fun out? Absolutely! If you're looking to still meet your weight loss goals, and don't want Halloween to bring your fat loss to a screeching halt, consider these healthy tips.

• Not having the candy in your house can be helpful so at least you won't have a big bowl of leftover candy.
  
• Instead of passing out candy, these make great treats to give out: fun pencils, party favors (like those plastic spider rings), small bags of pretzels, stickers, yo-yo's, small plastic cars, hair ribbons and such for girls, little notebooks, mini juice boxes, squeeze balls, bubbles, etc.
• Buy healthier Halloween treats- Tiny Trapeze Caramels- like rolos, but 1/2 the fat and calories, Back to Nature Mini Classic Crème Cookies, Clif kids Organic real fruit rope, toys, 100 calorie packs, Let's Do..Organic Gummi bears (80 calories) mini chewy granola bars, etc.

• Instead of going out to trick-or-treat, organize a Halloween party with your child's friends. You can have fun activities like bobbing for apples, and now you can bake wholesome treats and hand them out.
  
• If you only go to familiar houses, home baked treats will be okay. Or, you can collaborate on who gives out what to keep the candy to a minimum.
  
• Emphasize dressing up in a great costume instead of focusing just on all the candy.
  
• Set a deadline for the candy to be gone or thrown away, so it is out of the house.
• Store kids candy in an airtight container, or away in the cabinet, so it is not out on the counter easy to get to.
  
• Ration the candy-eating! Know how many calories those tiny bites really are.
  
• Focus on Halloween fun activities like haunted houses, costume parties, bonfires, pumpkin carving, etc.
  
• I love this idea- Have the kids go trick-or-treating and get their bag of candy, then have them pick out there 10 favorite pieces to put in the freezer, have them set out their bags of candy for the candy fairy to come in the night and take the candy, so it is out of the house and leave a great toy for them that they would love.
  
• Most importantly, have fun and enjoy a quality night out with your child or your friends.