Halloween is about dressing up in a favorite costume, trick or treating and attending parties with friends. For kids, candy is the night's sweet reward. But the Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry estimates that 16 to 33 percent of children and teens are obese. As a result, many parents are looking for healthy alternatives at children's parties. This can include food choices that are low in fat and calories, as well as tasty and appealing.
Carved Fruit and Vegetable Platter
Fruit and vegetable platters are popular at most parties and get togethers, and a fun Halloween-themed selection is sure to appeal to kids. Create a themed setting for your platter by carving pumpkins or painting spooky faces on them. You can also use watermelons and gourds. Then make an appealing display of attractively cut fruits and vegetables. Place some fruit on skewers so they are less likely to fall on the floor and slip out of little hands, but supervise any young children handling them. Fruit suggestions include apples, orange slices, strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, raspberries, pineapple, banana slices, grapes and melons. Veggies kids like include celery, carrots, radishes and green peppers. Hollow out trimmed celery sticks and fill some with peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese.
Low-Fat Combinations
Combine low-fat snacks with the Halloween theme to establish a kid-friendly atmosphere. Stick to small finger foods that are easy for kids to eat. For tasty snacks such as raisins, chocolate-covered candies and peanuts, consider pre-measuring the serving sizes and giving them to kids in Halloween bags to prevent overeating. Nuts provide a good source of protein, according to the Mayo Clinic. While they are high in fat, they contain the healthy fat, mono-unsaturated. Pretzel logs, low-fat popcorn and marshmallow treats can be embellished with long licorice strands and cinnamon candies. For dessert, cut ice cream sandwiches into fourths and roll the edges in orange and black Halloween sprinkles.
Drinks
Sugared drink mixes and sodas can be substituted for healthier alternatives. A punch can be created using a mixture of 100 percent fruit juices such as grape, cherry, strawberry and apple. For individual servings, add sparkling water for fizz and finish off with a scoop of low-fat red or orange sherbet. Make all natural smoothies with fruit and vegetable combinations and serve in disposable Halloween cups. Frozen slushies are also popular at kids Halloween parties. Try to avoid sweeteners that have large amounts of sugar. Serve fresh apple cider and add green or black food coloring for a ghoulish appearance.
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