By Nutrition & Health Coach Karla Gilbert
Karla is an accredited Nutrition and Health Coach. As a mum of two girls, she has a tip or ten to share for this Halloween!
Halloween is generally associated with two S’s… spookiness and sugar! Although it is only a once a year event that rolls around on October 31 (thank goodness), it does pay to have a few tricks up your sleeve to curb what may become a sugar overload.
Whether you are planning a party or adventuring out for some trick or treating with your children, with a little creativity it’s easy to find fun ways to involve food play while keeping a cap on the number of lollies that come home.
I find it pays off to encourage your child to fill up on a healthy dinner or snack before venturing out in their too-cute outfits. This will help reduce the temptations (and tantrums) to eat each lolly they come in contact with. Next, encourage your child to only take one lolly from each house they visit. Try rephrasing what they may see as a negative, stating that this means you can visit more houses. During times of Covid-19, it may also be advisable to only accept lollies that are wrapped, to avoid the risk of germ sharing.
If you plan on staying indoors (or social distancing restrictions are in place), involve your children with some fun ideas you can create at home – they will love getting into the spirit of Halloween and forget the fact that it is actually healthy!
Spooky bananas
So simple but so effective, bananas pair perfectly with chocolate.
Ingredients:
- 2 bananas
- 12 chocolate chips, regular-sized and/or mini
Method:
- Peel the bananas and cut them in half. Place the cut side down so the banana halves stand up.
- Use small chocolate chips to make ghost eyes and large chocolate chips to make ghost mouths.
Fangy apple bites
These are an easy and healthy snack to design. Use your imagination to have them looking as crazy as you like!
Ingredients:
- 2 x red or green apples, quartered
- Peanut butter
- 32 sunflower seeds
- 2-3 strawberries, sliced lengthwise
- Mini chocolate chips
Method:
- Carve apples: With a paring knife, carefully carve out a mouth in the middle quarter of each apple slice.
- Install teeth and tongue: Insert sunflower seeds into the top gap of the mouth to resemble teeth. Place a strawberry slice underneath to serve as the tongue.
- Place eyes and serve: Dab points of peanut butter on the upper halves of the apples. Stick on the googly eyes and serve.
Mandarin Pumpkins
Mandarins make for cute little pumpkins, while a celery stick makes for a great stalk!
Ingredients:
- 2-3 mandarins
- 1 stalk celery
Method:
- Peel the mandarins.
- Cut the celery lengthwise into thirds and then across into 1/2-inch pieces.
- Insert the celery pieces the tops of the peeled mandarins to resemble pumpkins. You can also pop some choc chips on for eyes.
Which Halloween treat will you be making this year?