Tips for a Healthy and Safe Halloween

It is that time again. The time for all your ghosts, goblins and neighborhood witches to come a knockin’.

Priority #1 – A Safe Halloween

Make your first priority a safe Halloween. Be sure your kid’s costumes are flame-resistant. If there is a mask with the costume, be sure they have plenty of breathing room and make sure the mask does not obstruct their view. Comfortable shoes are important to avoid blisters and accessories should be kept to a minimum, the younger the child is.

Be sure and impose the basic rules for a safe Halloween:

1. If not accompanied by a parent, be sure kids travel in groups.

2. Keep on sidewalks as much as possible. If there are no sidewalks, stay to the extreme side of the road.

3. Carrying a flashlight or glowstick.

4. Reflective stickers can added to costumes and shoes.

5. Visit homes that you know. Most people will keep a light on the front porch as a welcome indicator.

6. Be sure to tell the kids to always be pleasant, courteous and thankful.

7. It is always a good precaution to examine all treats before letting your children eat them to be sure they have not been tampered with. Be sure packaged candies are unopened and fruits and vegetables are in good condition. Cut all fruit in quarters before opening.

8. If you are inviting guests, turn on your front light or decorate your front door to make it inviting to guests. Make sure your front door is not cluttered with objects that children may trip over. If you have pets, be sure they are secured away from the door.

9. Halloween parties at home can alleviate fears of your kids going outside, especially if it happens to be bad weather.

10. Remember: safety comes first.

When finding treats for your guests, you may want to consider low- calorie, low-fat options. Snacks that are fun and good for your kid’s health is a win-win situation. Halloween/holiday packaging has even become more creative in recent years to add to the enticement value. You may want to consider:

Healthy Treats for Halloween

~Sugar-free gum

~100% Juice boxes

~Cheese sticks

~Cheese and cracker snacks

~Organic candied apples

~Dark Chocolate treats

~Popcorn or popcorn balls

~Apples

~Grapes

~Bananas

~Unshelled peanuts

~Low sugar cookies, pumpkin muffins or peanut butter drops (see below)

There are great non-food treats you can offer such as rubber spiders or worms, stickers, baseball cards, balloons, crazy top pencils, crayons, colored chalk, comic erasers and whistles.

Make sure all your treats are individually wrapped. Even the non-food goods. If you buy in bulk, you can find great little gift bags you can fill and then close them up with a twist or steam seal. Tag your goodies with a note with your name and address. This eases the mind’s of fellow parents.

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