A Happy, Healthy Halloween

Food Insecurity Drives Evaluation and Action Plan in Northwest Colorado
A healthy Halloween? Can it even be attempted? Candy has become such an integral part of this American holiday that challenging the norm seems like a difficult endeavor. The National Confectioners Association even reports that it is expecting Americans to spend $2.5 billion on candy for Halloween this year, slightly more than in years past because the day falls on a Friday.

Althought it may seem an impossible challenge, we believe it is possible to infuse some healthy aspects into your Halloween. Below are four easy ideas to consider to avoid creating (and even experiencing) a sugar crash this year:

1. Make Healthy Halloween Party Snacks

Be the healthy hero in disguise at your Halloween party (or your kids’ school celebration) when you bring any of these fun and tasty spooky creations. From spooky spiders on a log to healthy corn candy popsicles, we’ve got them all pinned for you on our Pinterest board.

2. Give Trick-Or-Treaters Healthy Treats

Instead of handing out candy that’s loaded with sugar, try these trick-or-treat options. Most of these items can be found at discount stores, grocery stores or drug stores.

  • Halloween themed mini-erasers or pencils
  • Silly Bandz
  • Temporary tattoos
  • Glow sticks
  • Honey sticks
  • Sugarless gum
  • Small lolliops

3. Invite The Switch Witch to Your House

Have you heard of the legend of the Halloween Switch Witch? She’s a good witch who LOVES candy, so much so that she is willing to leave prized toys (or sometimes money) for candy gifted to her on Halloween night.

A Switch Witch visit is easy to arrange. After your kids finish trick-o-treating, have them sort through their candy stash and set aside a small, reasonable amount of their favorite candies that they’ll be able to enjoy in moderation. During this process, talk to your kids about how candy is a “treat” or “sometimes food.” Then, bundle up the remaining candy with a note for the Switch Witch, wishing her a happy Halloween.

The gift the Switch Witch leaves can be as small or as big as you choose. What’s important is that your kids still get to participate in Halloween traditions, while eliminating the temptation to consume large amounts of candy in the following days and weeks.

4. Attend a Candy Swap

If you live near Denver, we invite you to join us and Bellco Credit Union for our annual Halloween Candy Swap! Bring your leftover candy and swap it for fresh fruit and fun prizes, including the chance to win a child walk-on role at the Moscow Ballet in December or free movie passes for a screening of Penguins of Madagascar on November 22 or free children’s admission tickets to the Denver Zoo. We’ll be at the following locations from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Nov. 8:

  • Smoky Hill Bellco Credit Union Branch, 24350 East Smoky Hill Road, Aurora, Colo. 80016
  • Stapleton Bellco Credit Union Branch, 3890 N. Quebec Street, Unit C, Denver, Colo. 80207
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