Best Healthy Treats (That Won't Get You Egged)
The scene is Halloween. You know it's only a matter of time before your doorstep is crowded with tons of children in costumes anxiously awaiting candy. What do you do? Sure you can temporarily stock up on sugary sweets for the masses. But why not offer a healthier alternative that will score you huge points with parents and the family dentist? Most parents will shy away from a homemade product (even if it looks divine), so Halloween participants should always invest in pre-packaged items. Still thinking about what to buy for children that won't rot their teeth? If you have been entertaining the idea of providing healthy snacks to trick-or-treaters, here are some options that won't get your house egged.
Caramel apples. Believe it or not, you can find pre-made caramel apples that contain the same sugar content as yogurt. Caramel by nature is not super fatty and often falls under 200 calories, making it a pretty decent snack. Couple this with an apple that contains no fat and awesome dietary fibers and you now have a great alternative to candy bars. Make sure you mark any candy apples that contain nuts for children with allergies.
Dark chocolate. If there is no way of getting around the chocolate factor, serve dark chocolate. Full of antioxidants, dark chocolate is also high in vitamins and minerals like copper, iron and potassium. Try to steer clear of milk chocolate and instead pick up a few bags of dark chocolate mini treats. Sure they may taste a little different, but at the end of the day, chocolate is chocolate.
Natural fruit leather. As the majority of children enjoy something sweet, try adding fruit leather to their bag of goodies. Natural fruit leather is made of dried fruit and only contains small amounts of added sugar. A light-weight snack, natural fruit leather is low in calories and a great way to introduce vitamin C into a diet. Just be sure to read the nutritional value as some faux fruit leathers contain higher amounts of added sweeteners.
Dried fruit snacks. Like fruit leather, dried fruit snacks are a great source of vitamin C and a way to introduce something natural into a child's daily intake. Fruit snacks offer small pops of fruity edibles and are sold in packs that make great takeaways for children on the go.
Organic candy. There is a healthy candy option available. Typically free of sweeteners, artificial flavors and even gluten for special diets, organic candy is a nice option for Halloween trick-or-treaters. Almost every type of candy imaginable, from lollipops to gummy bears, has healthier duplicates for children to try. Who says you can't have your candy and eat it too?
Trail mix. When it comes to snacking, children often enjoy variety and a good way to offer that is with trail mix. Most pre-made trail mixes are full of protein containing popular nuts and seeds. While there are trail mix options with candy available, try alternatives with dried fruit, raisins or granola for more nutrients. As trail mix contains a high amount of nuts, make sure you give the parentals a proper warning.
Soy snacks. Who says that Halloween has to be all about candy, candy and more candy? Soy-focused products are becoming a popular choice among the health conscious for their high protein content and links to disease prevention. As most children will more than likely take home tons of candy on Halloween, fill their bags with flavored puffs, crisps (a form of chips) and other soy-based products.
Tanvier Lee is a New York based lifestyle decorator, stylist and freelance writer. Her work can be found at Examiner.com
