It’s that time of year.. the candy will be flowing everywhere you look! The kids will be bringing home ALL THE CANDY from school parades, trunk or treats, Halloween parties, and oh yeah, can’t forget the actual day of Trick or Treating. What used to be a one-day event, has now turned into a month-long celebration, or so it seems. Am I right?
So how do we let our kids have the fun Halloween experience without having to deal with daily candy crash meltdowns? And how do WE as moms (or dads) keep ourselves from going off the rails with temptations everywhere?!?!
Here are some ways to clear out your kids’ stash after all the Halloween festivities have come to an end (or at least minimize it):
DENTIST BUY BACKS: Many local dentist offices will “buy back” candy from your kiddos and donate it for care packages for our troops. Check with your local dentist to see if they have a special buy back program going on. Your kids will get cash or prizes, depending on the individual dentist office. And, you also won’t have mountains of candy staring you in the face, it’s really a win-win!!
OPERATION GRATITUDE: The mission of Operation Gratitude is to Honor the service of our military and first responders by creating opportunities to express gratitude. They specialize in sending care packages to our troops and first responders. You can send in your candy donations, along with any other pre-packaged items here. The troops also love handmade cards and letters too; an excellent project for your kids!
I know most of us don’t want to be the “boring” moms handing out an apple or pencil to our trick or treaters. Don’t worry! There are so many fun non-candy options, that the kids will be just as, if not more, excited about getting:
Play-Doh is a FAN FAVORITE around here! Maybe not so much a favorite among the parents, especially my husband, the fun police! 😉 The kids, however, will love getting some new play-doh to add to their collection. These mini jars of play-doh are the perfect size to add to goody bags, etc.
Sensory Toys often include a variety pack of squishy toys, squishy balls or others like these glow-in-the dark bouncy balls, pop-it keychains, etc. and are an excellent candy alternative. These are the less messier option compared to play-doh and my husband’s personal worst-nightmare, SLIME! This set of fidget toys is a great option for classroom parties for preschool through middle school. We like this one too!
Mini-Halloween Coloring Pages with crayons are a perfect option to send in for a daycare party. I don’t know about you, but I always appreciate when my 2-year old & 4 year-old come home with something other than a bag full of candy. These are great to have on hand for dining out and road trips as well.
Are you planning on entertaining this Halloween season? Hosting a holiday party can be stressful. Figuring out what dishes to make, while keeping a balance of healthy & tasty can add an extra layer of stress too. There are plenty of ways to incorporate yummy dishes, that everyone will love, while not wreaking havoc on the diet. And if you are going to a party, volunteer to bring a dish to pass. At least you know there will be one healthy option available to you.
Here are a few healthy dishes that the crowds are guaranteed to love:
This Spicy Pumpkin Chili is the perfect fall dish, with a little kick for those spice lovers. You can do this on the stovetop, or in a crockpot/instapot, if you want to just throw it in and forget about it, until it’s party time.
These Pumpkin Spice Muffins are perfect to serve at a party, or to send in with the kids for their classroom party. It’s easy to add some nuts, chocolate chips or whatever additional toppings you’d like. I always throw in my favorite Pumpkin Spice Latte Level-1 Protein, to give my muffins an extra protein boost. You can choose to add the protein powder, or omit, whatever your preference. Make sure to grab these handy Silicone Muffin Pans for a hassle free clean up
Almond Stuffed Dates wrapped in bacon are one of my FAVORITE “go-to” holiday appetizers. They are easy to make and a definite crowd pleaser. These are going to be a little higher in fat, hello almonds and bacon. But, if you aren’t setting out to devour the whole tray (could be tempting!), these are a delicious salty/sweet snack to serve.
If you need help with healthy recipe ideas, make sure you head on over to the Fit In The Mitt page for weekly recipes!
Halloween is just the beginning of the next few months of holidays and parties galore. While its definitely okay to treat ourselves occasionally, doing that day-in and day-out over the next few months, can leave us ending the year with those dreaded holiday lbs.
Set yourself up to end the year on a high-note. Keep your goals in mind, while allowing yourself to still enjoy the extra time with family and friends. There is a way to balance the festivities, so you can still crush your goals.
If you find yourself stuck on how to make that actually happen, feel free to reach out to me for 1:1 nutrition coaching w/ 1st Phorm (add me as your advisor using: Nicole.fitm@gmail.com). I would be more than happy to help you stay on track and live your healthiest life!
Trick or Treat!!
Nicole
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