Healthy Tips for a fun-filled Halloween

Healthy Halloween TipsWith Halloween is right around the corner some of you might be wondering how you and your family can stick to your healthy lifestyle while still enjoying ghoulish get together, spooky soirees, and other frightening festivities. Here are a few healthy tips for a fun-filled Halloween.

 

Hand out non-food treats:  Give out goodies like stickers, pencils, bubbles, spider rings, play-dough, and other toys instead of candy.

Balance the Sweet Treats with Protein and Veggies: Whether you’re hosting or attending a Halloween party, or just getting the kids out the door to Trick-treat, make sure to incorporate protein and veggies. This will help to balance out snacking and prevent blood sugar spikes.

Games: If you are hosting a party for your kids you can take the classic game of duck-duck-goose and turn it into ghost-ghost-goblin. This adds a little spooky twist to the traditional game.  Ghost sack races, pin the hat on the witch and bobbing for apples are all fun ideas.Halloween themed snacking and games

Halloween themed dinner and snacking.  If your house is anything like mine, it’s always a scramble to get the kids ready and out the door.  Plus they are usually so excited it’s hard to get them to sit down to eat.  I have had success with candy corn veggie platter, mummy meatloaf, Banana pops, apple monsters, and Hot dog fingers. I usually prepare this the day before and put it out to nibble on throughout the night.   All fun foods that provide a healthy alternative to candy.

Don’t be fooled by the “fun-size.”  Sounds almost too obvious, but those cute little packages may look harmless but do we ever just eat one?!

 Halloween Hail MaryHalloween Hail Mary:

Halloween great!  It’s been one of my favorite holidays forever because I love sweets and getting creative with costumes and decor.  No matter who you are, you’re likely tempted by the undeniable ever present treats of the season.  Namely, Halloween Candy!  Stocking up on all the best varieties of candy, telling yourself  “it’s for the neighborhood kids.” Meanwhile you’re eating four pieces a day because they’re just so tempting and tiny that they seem harmless.  We’ve all been there but this year can be different.  Here’s a quick and dirty work out if you can’t help but eat that fourth Fun Size Snickers (or first). 😉

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115 thoughts on “Healthy Tips for a fun-filled Halloween

  1. Jessan says:

    We love Halloweens. The kids would always look forward to a fun-filled activity and games during this time. And yes, these are great reminders from you. We will surely be considering this as we prepare for the event.

  2. Jen Temcio says:

    DANG IT!!! Fun size candy is way too high in calories. I am SO glad you showed this to me because I am going to use self-control this year and just stay away from the candy. (YIKES!)

  3. Roger D Willis says:

    Healthier alternatives are starting to make their way into Halloween baskets here. Our grandkids like pretzels and animal crackers, along with candy, of course! Great tips for a healthy, happy Halloween!

  4. Jessica M says:

    Great tips.. I’ve never done this.. my youngest is going to be 14 and he’s not interested in trick or treating anymore but i will pass this along!

    • VenusFitness-Shannon says:

      Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate your taking the time to read and respond and pass along. Happy Halloween!

    • VenusFitness-Shannon says:

      No problem. Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate your taking the time to read and respond! Happy Halloween!

  5. Lauren says:

    I love the idea of handing out non-food treats. As simple as it is I never even thought about that. Looks like I am heading to the Dollar Store before Halloween 😉 I just wrote a post about what to do with leftover halloween candy, but even better if you don’t hand it out in the first place!
    simply-well-balanced.com/ideas-for-leftover-halloween-candy/

  6. Cassie says:

    Isn’t it terrifying seeing that chart and just how much exercise you’d have to do to work off such a tiny amount of chocolate! Hardly worth it haha. Lucky there are some great healthy alternatives out there

    • VenusFitness-Shannon says:

      It’s shocking to see in print. Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate your taking the time to read and respond! Happy Halloween!

  7. Ashley says:

    I love the info graph showing how much you need to work out to burn off the calories of eating whatever little morsel of sugary goodness one chooses to indulge in. My weakness is candy corn and that is literally all sugar. How horrible is that? I need some of your will power to be more dedicated to my fitness and eating healthy! Keep inspiring me!

    • VenusFitness-Shannon says:

      I will try!!! Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate your taking the time to read and respond! Happy Halloween!

    • VenusFitness-Shannon says:

      Glad you found some inspiration. . Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate your taking the time to read and respond! Happy Halloween!!

  8. Ching says:

    So I have been fooled by the fun size. people have started to bring in Halloween candy at work. I have gained a hard 5 lbs already and we haven’t even hit Thanksgiving or Christmas. I decided to nip this in the bud. I’m proud of myself, after a LONG break, I hopped back on the treadmill. I’m going to start exercising again!

  9. Claudia Krusch says:

    I like to hand out non candy treats. Kids already get so much candy I like to change things up. These are great tips for a healthy Halloween.

  10. Helen Chik says:

    Haha I’m always a sucker for the fun size snacks but end up having two full size snacks when I’m done. I love the idea of handing out non-candy treats to change it up!

  11. Shell says:

    I always hand out non candy items such as stickers and small toys because so many kids in our neighborhood have food allergies…

  12. Akamatra says:

    Finally a post that respects the need to cut down on so much candy! There should be a lesson in class about how unhealthy these things are and full of harmful chemicals too. Good for you!

  13. Carol Cassara says:

    We all know this holiday is going to be filled with sweet treats, which is why it’s awesome to balance it all out with healthy recipes! I think this is an awesome guide, I appreciate all the tips!

  14. Nina says:

    What a wonderful sharing! I am just looking for a method to control my weight in this Halloween.

    Thank you so much for sharing!

  15. Aitza B says:

    Not only are sticker and little toys healthier, they are more cost effiecent for you as the buyer. I go to my local 5 below and let my friends’ younger siblings pick out what they think kids would like.

  16. Athena says:

    Great tips. Fortunately my kids trick or treat to around 5 houses then call it a night. It is totally time to come back in the house and relax at that point.

  17. Dr. K. Lee Banks says:

    I don’t celebrate Halloween, but these ideas look great for all those who do celebrate it. I like the idea of balancing the typical treats with fruit and veggies – and also handing out non-food treats (probably not a favorite idea for kids, but the parents probably appreciate it!)

  18. Sandra Lopes says:

    You have some great and healthy ideas here. I can see a way of using some of this for the Christmas holidays as we don’t really celebrate Halloween much here where I live. Thanks for the tips

  19. Kirstie says:

    The banana ghost and orange pumpkins are great healthy concepts kids will love. Sorry, just noticed in your photo. 😀 But yes! Kids are expecting candies and chocolates, pop in a fun, healthy teat. It will save them the toothache.

  20. Meghna says:

    I am truly scared of Halloween candies more than the monsters and vampires. I keep my children away from such temptations but Halloween candies can get them go crazy!

  21. adkinsdomain says:

    I love these tips! I’m not a huge fan of halloween, so I love the idea of giving out something besides candy and continuing to eat meals and not overload on candy. Keep halloween simple and healthy. I like it.

  22. Preet says:

    Some great tips. I need to work more on taking veggies and proteins and not just all sweets during Halloween. Have to plan the same for my kids too. I also like the idea of games.

  23. Sarah says:

    Great idea to hand out stickers and other items beside candy! Since kids will get so much candy anyways 🙂 and I know the mini candy bars seem harmless but when you eat 10 the calories add up!!!

  24. Becky Willis says:

    These are all great tips. My Mom gave out pencils one year that were Halloween themed and the Trick or Treaters were not impressed lol. But it was a healthy alternative since so many give out candy items. I love your idea of the themed ‘duck duck goose’. I also like your little bananas and cutie “pumpkins.”

  25. Andrea says:

    It can be easy to get carried away this time of year can’t it? Thanks for sharing these tips – I am going to try to implement more of them!

  26. Anne Yedlin says:

    Those banana ghosts and orange pumpkins are really cute. I love the idea of making a healthy snack in a holiday full of unhealthy junkfood.

  27. TColeman says:

    Halloween is definitely a holiday that is associated with so much sugary stuff. It is nice to see some healthy alternatives.

  28. Leigh Anne Borders says:

    I love the idea of giving out some things other than candy. Even though this holiday centers around candy, we can certainly make it more healthy!

  29. Nicole says:

    These are all really great tips! My favorite for the holidays is the themed games and treats, always a fun way to celebrate! We’ll have to try some of these out, thanks for sharing!

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