Halloween CandyHalloween is a fun time of year for kids with costumes, trick or treating and of course all the candy. And it's a lot of fun for parents to watch the joy in their children's faces experiencing it all. But many of us are trying to balance that fun tradition with being a little healthier or maybe even have children with food intolerances.
So what does a health coach give out on Halloween? You may be surprised to hear that I do give out candy to trick or treaters. I mix in some pencils and plastic spiders and stickers, but there is also a lot of candy in my Halloween bucket. I do however, splurge for the good stuff. This year I am giving out two different treats:
1. YumEarth Organics lollipops: they are certified organic, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, peanut and tree nut-free. They are made with real fruit and have no HFCS, artificial dyes or flavors. My kids love them and so does my husband.
2. Florida's Natural Organic Fruit Nuggets: they are certified organic and gluten free. They are made with real fruit and have no HFCS, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors. My kids and all their friends love these little treats that are similar to gummy bears.
What do I do when my kids come home with all of the traditional GMO, HFCS and chemical filled candy? I have them trade it in for these lollipops and fruit nuggets as well as other things like organic dark chocolate and coins - nickels, dimes and the occasional quarter (for the full size bars). We have done this for a few years now and they adjusted very well to the change and actually enjoy the trading negotiations.
I will admit I let them indulge in a fair bit of the mom-approved candy on Halloween night. It is a holiday after all and I want them to have a fun tradition like other kids. But after that it goes down to just a few pieces a day.
Another challenge with Halloween for parents is having all that candy in the house (it's very tempting). So I suggest getting rid of any unhealthy treats that come home from trick or treating after the trading process has occurred. There are several options to consider like trading it in at your dentists office (many do this), throwing it away, or donating it to a food pantry. Whatever you choose, having it out of the house will remove the temptation to eat it.
Pumpkin Cupcakes
Nothing smells more like fall than pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg. Fill your whole house with these delicious fall aromas by making these simple pumpkin cupcakes.
Ingredients:
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup almond butter
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
2 eggs, pasture raised and organic
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Pinch of Himalayan salt
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350.
Line a muffin pan with 12 parchment paper liners.
Mix all ingredients except for the eggs together in a large bowl.
Taste for sweetness and add more maple syrup if necessary.
Add the eggs and mix well.
Evenly divide the batter among the 12 cups.
Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.