Help Your Children Have a Fun, Save and HEALTHY Halloween

« How to execute the proper form for a lunge | Main | Can Yoga Cause Conflict? »

Help Your Children Have a Fun, Save and HEALTHY Halloween

By Christina | September 29, 2008

It sounds like an oxymoron; Healthy Halloween but it doesn’t have to be. After all, what child would be excited to find a wheat-germ cookie or a piece of fresh fruit in their trick or treat bag? Halloween is meant for the chocolate and candy-corn and any sugar-laden candy bars, right?

If you want your children to enjoy the fun but recognize that the kids will be getting plenty of sweets without you contributing to the loot, you may want to hand out some Halloween treats that lean to the healthy side. Here are some healthy recipes to make homemade treats that kids (and their parents) will be pleased to receive.

Caramel Honey Apples - see below
Spooky Honey Popcorn Balls - see below

Once your kids are back from their neighborhood jaunt, keep some tricks up your sleeve to avoid overeating of the sweet stuff:

Send your child(ren) out after having had a good dinner so they don’t come home starved or, worse, end up eating candy along the way
Allow them to have some extra sweets that night
Place the candy out of sight so that they are not wanting or garbbing at it all through the day
Come to how many pieces per day agreement such as with a glass of milk as an after-school snack, or for dessert at dinner

Caramel Honey Apples -

1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup chopped nuts
5 to 6 small apples (4 to 6 ounces each)
sticks for the apples

1. Combine all ingredients except apples and nuts in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat to 265°F; stir constantly.

2. Remove from heat and cool 5 minutes.

3. Insert small Popsicle-type sticks into apples. Holding apple by stick, roll in hot honey mixture to coat; roll bottom of apple in nuts if desired.

4. Place on waxed paper squares to cool. Repeat with remaining apples.

Based on individual serving.
Calories: 550
Total Fat: 28 g
Carbohydrates: 76 g
Protein: 3 g

Spooky Honey Popcorn Balls

1. 0.5 cup honey
2. 0.25 cup sugar
3. butter
4. 0.5 tsp cinnamon
5. 5.0 popped cup popcorn

1. Combine honey, sugar and 1 tablespoon butter in 2-quart microwave-safe container.
2. Microcook, covered with plastic wrap, at HIGH (100%) 5-1/2 to 7 minutes or to 275 degrees F.
3. Pour over warm popcorn; stir with wooden spoon until popcorn is thoroughly coated.
4. Cool until mixture can be handled.
5. Butter hands and shape popcorn into balls.
6. Tip: Eat within a few hours or store lightly covered to maintain freshness.

Based on individual serving.
Calories: 169
Total Fat: 2 g
Carbohydrates: 38 g
Protein: 1 g