Healthy Halloween Treats for the Body and Mind

Would it still feel like Halloween when all you have are healthy Halloween treats? I am not a fan of Halloween but because of the candy, my daughter is. In preschool, she is learning about the difference between growing food and fun food. I wish they had called “fun food” by its real name – junk. I don’t mean junk food. I mean junk. It’s detrimental to eat it.

How unfortunate that its sugary sweetness and mouth-watering saltiness can console the revved up taste buds of modern life. People whose brains have been trained to associate junk with pleasure often crave it. It can appease their agitation and give them a rush in the short-term, temporarily, until the crash hits. I occasionally succumb to this trap and live to regret it.

What healthy Halloween treats could we choose instead?

I am a proponent of moderation and involvement. Health is a process. Here are key places for you to be involved in the process of creating health for your family.

Communicate with your children that this the perfect occasion to teach them how to make healthy choices.
Oversee the consumption process – ration the candy so your kids don’t have sugar crash headaches, stomach aches, diarrhea, or a reduced immune system that leaves them vulnerable to germs and sick days. Even if they do get sick, here are some tips for you to stay healthy.
Substitute dried fruits like raisins and cranberries, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, nuts, light air-popped popcorn, apples and other fresh seasonal fruits which have nutritional value and fiber. These truly are healthy Halloween treats. Fill them up on natural and unprocessed so there is less room for junk.
Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily. Flush those toxins out of their bodies asap.
Make sure you and your kids are getting enough sleep. The body regenerates during sleep. You may need to take special care to sooth and console. My kids and I often get nightmares because of the spooky imagery. The gore décor triggers fear physiology. Combine that with sugared-up body chemistry and you often end up with edgy temperaments.
Keep your schedule simple and don’t over-commit. I give you permission to decline invitations to events.

Healthy Halloween Treats for the Mind

Lastly, I encourage you to exercise as much scrutiny with what you feed your mind as with what you are feeding your body. Healthy Halloween treats for your mind? Think about it. Our brains are stimulated by the images we see and experiences we have, as well as the food we eat. Turn away from gore and violence. Remember that trick or treat was an ultimatum, a threat. Refrain from entertainment at the expense of others: tricks, pranks, sinister voices, and scares. I confess that this is also for my own benefit. Some of us are more sensitive than others.

Violence, disrespect, gore, revenge, outbursts, and angry words already abound. Let’s keep our minds healthy and nourished by focusing on what is pure, lovely, and admirable. (Philippians 4:8) I am determined to stand for light and not darkness on October 31.

Please comment below and share what was helpful from this article, especially if you have your own healthy Halloween treats or experiences to share. I look forward to hearing from you and supporting your journey as a parent.