Catherine’s Picks: Healthier Halloween
*Spooky szn* is officially here – and we are here for it! While the entire Jaxon family loves Halloween and the excitement around trick-or-treating, sometimes the candy haul and resulting sugar rush can be a bit much for little ones and us parents.
I’ve rounded up fang-tastic, fun, tasty treats that are healthier for little witches and wizards and would also make for the perfect school Halloween party treats! “Give me something good to eat,” indeed! Bonus: Check out some additional seasonal inspo below, including a fun idea to get leftover candy out of your house (temptation, be gone!) and a way to make a big impact for food allergy families in your neighborhood.
SmartSweets
So many low sugar gummy and hard candy options from this brand! Soft and chewy SmartSweets Sweet Fish are a cult favorite (think: like the other fish candy, but better for you!), with only 3 grams of sugar and 100 calories in the whole bag. Plus, it’s free of any artificial sweeteners and packed with 13 grams of plant-based fiber.
Buy it here
Unreal Bars
These delicious, fair trade-certified bars have gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO options! The all-natural Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars are made from just three simple ingredients: organic coconut, organic cassava syrup and dark chocolate. They have 51% less sugar than the leading brand, with no sugar alcohol and no soy.
Buy it here
Mission MightyMe Puffs
A smart swap for other puff brands, this pantry staple is designed to age up and keep nuts in little diets for babies, big kids and beyond – with less stress and mess. Packed with protein and made with 50% nuts, you won’t find cane sugar, cane syrup, palm oil, preservatives or anything artificial in our products. This science-backed snack is so delicious, you’ll be hearing “more puffs, please” on repeat.
Buy it here
Plum Organics Teensy Fruit Snacks
These yummy berry toddler fruit snacks are perfect for little mouths to chew. Made with a blend of organic fruit purees, including berry, cherry, and apple, with organic, non-GMO ingredients for nutritional goodness.
Buy it here
Ghosts + Bats Garden Veggie Chips
Made with garden-grown potatoes and vegetables, this crispy and crunchy snack has 30% less fat than the leading potato chips – with no artificial flavoring or artificial preservatives. Bonus points for the fun spook-tacular shapes!
Buy it here
Allergy-Aware Trick-or-Treating: The Teal Pumpkin Project
If your family wants to be more inclusive for the kiddos in your neighborhood experiencing food allergies and sensitivities, check out our video about FARE’s Teal Pumpkin Project and add your house to the Teal Pumpkin Map!
Offering the option of non-food trinkets and toys is a fun and easy way to make Halloween safer and more inclusive for those with allergies who have to be cautious around candy. As a food allergy mom, we always appreciate spotting teal pumpkins in our neighborhood, and we’ve participated for years by proudly displaying our own on the front porch.
Minimize the Sugar Rush: Switch Witch
This is one of my favorite fall traditions! When our kiddos were younger, the “Switch Witch” started visiting our house the night of Halloween.
The genius idea: kids can come home from trick-or-treating, enjoy some hard-won candy, pick a few of their favorites to keep and head to bed, dreaming sweet dreams of festive fun. While they’re asleep, the Switch Witch comes over, takes their leftover candy and swaps it out with a small toy or game. Less candy available in the house is a boo-tiful sight, and it’s a fun tradition that little ones can look forward to every year!
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About Catherine: Catherine is a mom of three, and her oldest daughter is allergic to most nuts. As a mom who knows what a burden food allergies can be, Catherine is passionate about helping other parents get proactive about preventing them. Prior to founding Mission MightyMe, Catherine was an award-winning journalist with CNN and is still an avid researcher and a journalist at heart.
