While Halloween is a fun and exciting holiday for the kids; it also comes with its share of risks. Kids with allergies especially need to be careful about avoiding food allergens which can even be fatal. Parents must use this holiday to instill a lifetime of healthy habits in children. Last week, we covered some easy ways to prepare for Halloween. Today, we will consider some easy ways to keep kids safe this Halloween.
1. Host a party at your place
There are many fantastic ideas you can use to host a party for kids or adults.
- Invite your guests to wear costumes.
- Add some home-made decorations. Many DIY craft Halloween ideas are available on Pinterest.
- Cook or order food without allergens- Jack-o-lantern pizzas made with gluten-free dough, vegan or vegetarian items, mashed potato mounds arranged as ghosts, healthy finger foods and beverages, fruit or vegetable salads shaped as Halloween figurines etc are easy to make and good to eat.
- Keep the focus on healthy activities. Dancing to spooky music, scavenger hunt,
2. Talk to family and friends
Enlist the help of your family, friends or neighbors so you can all practice safe Halloween. If your child has food allergies, talk to your neighbors about keeping hypoallergenic snacks. You can also keep acceptable snacks on hand so your child can have them if needed. Send your child trick or treating in pre-screened homes.
3. Tips to go trick or treating safely
Here are some ways to go trick or treating safely:
- Carry a flashlight
- Wear clothes with fluorescent colors that are seen easily
- Adults must accompany younger kids
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Carry a water bottle to keep the children hydrated
- Carry allergy medications or injections if needed
- Carry a charged cell phone in case of emergency
- Go in a group
- Carry antibacterial wipes and/or hand sanitizers
- Do not go trick-or-treating in unfamiliar areas
4. Inspect the candy
Teach your child not to eat candy without you examining it first. Adults must tactfully learn to trade unsafe items with safer ones like fruit or non-edible items like books. If you are in doubt about the safety of a particular piece of candy, throw it out. Teach your child the importance of healthy eating and how sugar leads to cavities and other health problems. Now is a good time to ensure that the child learns to practice moderation in everything.
5. Do not include food at all
Halloween can be food-free. You can hand out non-food treats that you can easily buy at Dollar stores. Here are some cool non-food treats:
- Glow-in-the dark sticks
- Costume jewelry
- Pencil toppers
- Key chains
- BPA free plastic containers, lunch boxes, and water bottles
- Reusable cloth bags
- Small stuffed toys
- Tiny deck of cards
- Crayons
- Color booklets or free downloadable coloring sheets
- Magazines
- Comic books
- Toothbrushes
- Coupons to neighboring yogurt stores
6. Healthy food treats to give trick-or-treaters
Here are a few healthy food ideas:
- Snack packets with dried fruits
- Nuts and seeds (in case of allergic kids do not give)
- Apples
- Crackers-Low fat crackers with cheese
- Snack pudding
- Apple sauce
- Raisin boxes
- Fig cookies
- Sugar free candy or chewing gum
- Bean dip
- Ready-to-make sugar free hot chocolate packets
- Bean dip
- 100% juice boxes
If you are giving chocolate, consider darker varieties with greater percentage of cocoa. Inspect each item before purchase and opt for snacks and treats that are lower in calories.
Halloween is a good time to talk to them to your kids about the importance of making wiser food choices as well as about the differences between healthy and unhealthy food groups. Teach the kids the importance physical activities and exercise can make in their lives. Talk to your kids about how much you love them and care for them. We hope these easy ways help you have a fun and safe Halloween.
