When a child thinks of Halloween, he thinks of candy -- and lots of it. When a parent thinks of Halloween, one of her thoughts is about candy -- and the results of it. In addition to trick-or-treating at home, Halloween is a widely celebrated time in your child's classroom. However, with an increased focus on health and becoming more informed about child food allergies such as peanuts, you may become required to think outside the box about what classroom treats are appropriate so that everyone can enjoy them.
Gummy Worms
Worms are a gross but fun part of Halloween. Stay in the Halloween theme by sending individual packets of gummy worms to the party. Gummy worms are not only bright and colorful, but they are not as unhealthy as many other candy options and do not contain any peanuts or peanut derivatives. A serving of 10 gummy worms can contain an average of 200 calories and contain moderate amounts of sugar. However, some health food stores, like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, sell gummy worm candies that contain higher concentrations of real fruit or organic gummy candies that contain fewer chemicals but don't compromise on taste.
Nut-Free Chocolate-Covered Fruit
It can be challenging to get kids to eat healthy foods, such as fruit or vegetables. Melt a bar of nut-free chocolate and dip dry, half-sized bananas, strawberries or pineapple rings into it. Allow them to dry on wax paper and package enough individual servings for your child's classroom. Brands such as the Vermont Chocolate Company makes a variety of peanut-free chocolates, which are also free of peanut oil. These fruit options are all low in calories and contain moderate amounts of vitamins and minerals and dietary fiber.
Frozen Fruit Pops
Make homemade fruit pops and add pieces of gummy worms or gummy bears to add a Halloween surprise. Using 100 percent fruit juice makes this a healthy snack and keeps it as a low-calorie treat. Call the teacher in advance to ensure that a freezer will be available to keep the fruit pops cold.
S'mores
S'mores can be produced quickly with the assistance of a microwave. Choose a graham cracker variety that does not contain peanuts or peanut derivatives. Marshmallows do not contain peanut-related products. Choose a peanut-free variety of chocolate that will help to bond the ingredients together. Suggest to your child's teacher that the children be allowed to tell scary stories with the lights off and a heavy-duty flashlight to serve as a "campfire."
