How to Choose Healthier Halloween Treats

When you're doling out Halloween treats you don't have to offer candy loaded with sugar and empty calories. Why not choose healthy treats that are nutritious as well as tasty for the trick or treaters who'll soon be knocking on your door? And, if you're counting calories, yourself, you won't be as tempted to dig into your Halloween leftovers or sneak into your children's bags after they've fallen asleep.

What are some healthier choices for Halloween treats? To determine what's more nutritious, forget about refined sugar and focus on healthier choices, such as fruits, as well as those rich in protein. For example you can offer...

Protein Choices....

Peanuts----Peanuts are a snack that children not only love, but it is also good for them. Look for some generic low cost peanut packets which you can probably find at your local Dollar Store, or in discount stores. If you have a SAM's CLUB card, buy at Costco where you can save money by buying in bulk.

Peanut butter crackers---This snack provides protein and is more filling than just candy and other junk foods kids usually receive trick or treating.

Cheese crackers---Children love to munch on cheese crackers, another good source of healthy protein.

Cheese sticks-----Cheese is an excellent source of protein that children also love. As a substitute teacher I noted how cheese sticks were packed in most of the kids' lunch boxes at snack time and again, at lunch.

Meat sticks---Meat sticks are another excellent source of protein that kids love. For example, Beef Jerkeys are popular favorite among children. For others meat stick brands, check out more selections at meatsticks.com.

Fruits----Buy bagfuls of apples, oranges, and tangerines. In addition, you could buy a large quantity of grapes and divide them up in Ziploc bags.

Fruit juice boxes---Fruit juice is not only healthy, but kids love to drink it.

Hot chocolate packets---This is a treat the children can enjoy later after all their candy is gone. It's not long after Halloween that many of us will be sitting by our fireplaces, sipping hot chocolate.

Yogurt---Look for miniature yogurt boxes at large wholesale stores such as Costco.

Raisin boxes---Children love raisins and especially enjoy receiving their own little boxes that they can take to school at snack time.

Sugar-free gum---I know that sugar-free gum has proven a lifesaver to me when I'm counting calories. The artificial flavor provides enough pleasure to satisfy my sweet tooth. Again, try and buy in bulk at a Dollar Store or discount store to save money.

On the other hand, if you're too tempted to handle giving out food at all, there's no rule that says you have to give out candy. Why not give a zero-calorie treat such as handfuls of pennies? When I was child years ago I always looked forward to getting pennies from a favorite neighbor. It's true that pennies don't go as far as they did back in the 1950s, but just give more of them. Or you could hand out nickels or dimes. If you live in a neighborhood where you don't get a lot of trick or treaters, then maybe you could give more.

These are just a few suggestions. With a little thought, you can come up with your own healthy, as well as low-calorie treats. You'll not only feel better that you didn't contribute to a sugar meltdown, but the kids' parents will appreciate your healthier treat choices, too.