If you're a health-conscious mom, then Halloween can truly be one of the scariest times of the year. Nobody wants to be the Halloween equivalent of The Grinch, but it's hard to ignore the fact that very little of what ends up in your child's trick-or-treat bag falls into the category of "healthy fare." Plus, if you're a busy working mother on the go, chances are you occasionally plunge your hand into your child's candy collection and make an impromptu snack out of whatever comes up.
While very little of what gets passed out at Halloween is good, some options are better--and healthier--than others. Lauren Slayton and Caren Tishfield, registered nutritionists and co-authors of Mindful Menus: The Guilt-Free Guide to Ordering In, have created a useful guide that gives readers the calories-and-sugar bottom line when it comes to Halloween treats. While some things on their guide make it all the way to the top of the "Horrific" scale, like Baby Ruth and O'Henry bars, things like candy corn and York Peppermint Patties--while far from being ideal--at least won't do too much damage, to either your kids' short-term health or your own long-term diet goals. Their guide can be found here on the New York Metro Parents Halloween website.
On the upside, all the extra Halloween calories might just motivate you and your kids to engage in the healthiest lifestyle choice of all: a little extra exercise!
