Green Your Halloween
Today, Michelle Stern of What’s Cooking offers tips for improving the health of your Halloween festivities:
“I have a confession to make. I am one of those moms. I cringe at the thought of high fructose corn syrup entering the bodies of my two children. It's not that high fructose corn syrup is much worse for their bodies than ordinary sugar. But to me, it is a sign that the food that it's in is a man-made laboratory concoction. Don't get me wrong. I love a good hunk of chocolate or a bowl of ice cream as much as the next person. But I aim to indulge in sugar-laden treats that are made from real food. And even then, I try to do so only on occasion.
So, how should I handle Halloween? Should I ban the sugar-bombs that my kids bring home with pride after a fun evening of trick-or-treating? No way – that will only make them want to eat more. Are there appealing options for handling the sugar and over packaging madness that surrounds this holiday? You bet!
Kids learn from our actions – it's time we step up and show our kids that we care about their health and the health of other people's children…not to mention the health of our planet. Here are some tips for improving the health of your Halloween festivities:
1. Try to shift the focus from conventional candy treats to activities and treasures that are better for our bodies and our planet.
2. Consider the ingredients that are in the treats that you share with the little ghosts, princesses, and superheroes that come to your door.
3. Consider a partial trade-in policy – you will give your child a book, toy, or coupon for a favorite activity if they turn in all but their favorite 10-15 pieces of candy.
4. Do you have to give out candy? If not, give out special treasures that will last awhile before being dumped into the trash. Here are some of my favorite treat alternatives:
5. If you want to give out treats made from real ingredients, try these:
For more wonderful ideas about how to make Halloween healthier and safer for our children and for the environment, visit Green Halloween.”
Image credit: GreenHalloween.com
Comments
Thanks for the great post - I just linked to it over at earthyyogamom.blogspot.com.
Posted by: Lauren Bellon | October 27, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply to this comment