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October 18, 2004
Boise State Prof Offers Tips For A Healthy Halloween
Halloween doesn�t have to be a nutrition nightmare. With a little planning and a common-sense approach, families can enjoy a healthy holiday, according to Elaine Long, a professor in the Department of Community and Environmental Health at Boise State University.
Long, who is also a registered dietitian, has conducted national studies on school nutrition education. Here are her tips for a healthy Halloween:
� Prepare your family�s favorite foods for dinner before a night of trick or treating. Have your children help plan the menu. Include foods from all food groups. For example, try nachos (chili, cheese, salsa, diced tomatoes) served with whole grain tortilla chips, vegetables (orange peppers, carrots) with yogurt dip and a few black olives (goblin eyes), pumpkin cookies (with chocolate covered raisins), and orange goblin juice (orange juice concentrate, low fat vanilla yogurt, ice.)
� Bring along a water bottle on trick or treat night � water is an important nutrient.
� Practice good dental hygiene, especially after eating treats (October is Dental Hygiene Month).
� Physical activity is part of Halloween � encourage your kids to go to houses with steps and long driveways (as long as the porch light is on.) Consider using pedometers to see how many spooky steps they take on Halloween night.
� Put other choices in the treat bowl � pencils, stickers, spider rings or small packages of sugar-free gum.
� Treats that offer �good oral clearance� (leave the mouth quickly) are key. Chocolate candy, compared to sticky or hard candies, has good oral clearance.
� Consider offering treats which add nutrients such as B-vitamins, iron, zinc, potassium, etc. For example, you might offer miniature chocolate bars with nuts, peanut butter cups or cookie bars, small packages of trail mix or coupons for ice cream cones.
� When kids arrive home after an evening of trick or treating, ask them what they would like �more-
to do with their treats. According to a survey of kids ages 6-11 released by the National Confectioners Association, 66 percent would share with their family, 64 percent would share with their friends, 26 percent would give treats to their teachers, and only 7 percent would keep all their
treats for themselves.
� Candy is a �treat� and can be enjoyed in a healthful diet. Typically, one ounce of candy supplies 100-150 calories � hence the key for all ages is moderation.
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Contact: Elaine Long, Department of Community and Environmental Health, (208) 426-3260, elong@boisestate.edu
Media contact: Janelle Brown, communications and marketing, (208) 426-1790, jbrown2@boisestate.edu
Last reviewed on Thursday, July 21, 2005