Perhaps this year you don’t want your child to have a bulging pillowcase full of hyperactivity-inducing candy. Or maybe he can’t safely trick or treat because he has an allergy to nuts, which could be triggered when he approaches a well-meaning neighbor bearing Snickers bars. Maybe your kid is ill and can’t go outside to trick-or-treat, or maybe your family doesn’t trick-or-treat for religious reasons. It doesn’t matter why you aren’t going trick-or-treating…what does matter is that you and your family have something fun to do together on October 31. There are plenty of fun, healthy activities and treats that can help celebrate autumn and/or Halloween that don’t involve trick-or-treating or tons of candy.
Fun activities
- Have a movie night. Choose age-appropriate Halloween-themed classics like “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” “Hocus Pocus,” “The Addams Family,” or “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” just to name a few.
- Plan a games night. Have your kids step right up and toss the rings onto the witch’s broomstick, or pin the tail on the Halloween kitty. Play Halloween- or fall-themed Pictionary or Charades.
- Decorate pumpkins. Need a safe alternative to carving? Use permanent markers or paint to decorate your pumpkins.
- Have a fun evening out. Go on a hayride, navigate a corn maze, or walk through a spooky haunted house. Many of these activities are often run by organizations in your community, like local colleges and fire departments.
- An apple a day… Go bobbing for apples–then dip ’em in fat-free caramel for a sweet treat.
Healthier treats
- Roasted pumpkin seeds. They’re good for you and quite fiber-licious. Click here to find out how to roast your own.
- Halloween Trail Mix. Set out bowls of nuts, dried fruits, granola, miniature chocolate chips, and miniature whole wheat pretzels. Let your kids concoct their own trail mix. Add roasted pumpkin seeds to your offerings for some fall flair.
- Healthy baked goods. Spiced pumpkin biscuits, caramel apple pie, and chocolate spiderweb cookies could be fun things for you and your kids to bake–and munch on–together.
- A soup-er idea. Whip up some hearty soup and healthy sandwiches.
- Get cider-iffic. Make a batch of healthy apple cider, like this no-sugar-added kind. You can serve it hot or cold.
- Frighteningly good veggies. Try your hand at this clever idea–making a haunted forest out of a variety of veggies.
However you choose to celebrate Halloween, we hope it’s a happy and healthy one for you and your family!
