Have a Happy & Spooky Halloween
Ready for some thrills and chills? Halloween, also known as ‘Hallow’s Eve’ is a festive holiday full of spooky activities such as trick or treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, dressing up in creative costumes, and of course, eating lots of candy. This day is particularly special because of the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts believed that on October 31st the season officially changes, and spirits would return to Earth to communicate with us. The Celts would dance around a bonfire and dress up in scary costumes as a disguise to ward off ghosts. Today, Halloween remains the spookiest day of the year. While the current recommendations to refrain from trick or treating might dampen your Halloween spirit, we’re here to offer some ideas for a memorable household celebration. Here are 3 tips to have a fun, safe, and healthy Halloween!
Plan Fun Indoor Activities in Place of Trick or Treating
Get the most thrills and chills out of your Halloween party by playing fun indoor activities with your family. There are plenty of fun alternatives to trick or treating that your kids will love, and you can even customize the activities to make them as spooky as you like! A few ideas include playing an indoor Halloween scavenger hunt, pumpkin twister, a Halloween-themed movie night, or a mummy sack race where you wrap up everyone’s legs with white crepe paper. The first to cross the finish line with no rips in the paper wins!
Get Creative with Your Meals and Snacks
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so why not make a day of it with your family? Create your own Halloween menu by including fruits and vegetables that have Halloween-themed colours such as orange, black, green, purple, and red. Do you have kids who love a scary-good craft or two? Carve jack-o-lantern faces on sweet potato chips before baking, make slime out of some avocado guac, arrange a candy corn fruit platter, and assemble a veggie skeleton with peppers for the ribs! With a little bit of imagination, you can turn any snack into a spooky one. Use this holiday as an opportunity to bring everyone together for the perfect family bonding experience.
Make Your Own Nutritious Treats
Halloween is the perfect day to express creativity by making spooky treats that are fun and nutritious. Make your own healthy Halloween treats using things like fruit, nuts and whole grains. Consider these horrific Halloween-themed snack ideas!
Tangerine Pumpkins: Peeled tangerines with celery sticks for the stem
Banana Ghosts: Peeled bananas with chocolate chips for the eyes
Jack-o-lantern fruit cups: Jack-o-lantern carved oranges stuffed with fresh fruit
Candy corn fruit cocktail: Pineapple and oranges topped with whipped cream
Frankenstein Smoothie Bowl: Mango, banana, and spinach smoothie topped with blueberries (for Frankenstein’s hair)
Spooky Black Bean Hummus: A black bean dip with a black olive spider for garnish
Take Away
While Halloween is a festive holiday full of trick or treating, you can still have just as much fun indoors! This day is the perfect opportunity to make memorable family bonding experiences through fun and crafty indoor food-related activities. Let’s get creative and think outside the box to make this Halloween a safe and enjoyable one. Happy haunting and have a fang-tastic night!
By: Kristine Brigino, 4th year Nutrition Student
Reviewed by: Pauline Bakowski, MHSc, RD, Kristie Pun, MHSc, RD, & Cheryl Ching, MSc, RD
Disclaimer: our blog content is for general education purposes and may not be suitable for individual health conditions. Please see your health professional or book an appointment with one of our dietitians for personalized health recommendations.
