Once the school year begins, the countdown to Halloween is on! Adults and children look forward to the fun of costumes and special treats. For parents trying to keep unhealthy treats under control, it can be a real challenge when treats are expected and encouraged. The special treats can turn into way too much sugar and empty calories for our children and derail our messaging of eating healthy.
You can use these healthy snacktivity ideas to keep Halloween a little healthier and a lot more fun! Snacktivities combine a snack and an activity into one exciting experience. Children will get to be creative or play a game, and have a nutritious snack. We can’t avoid all the candy, but we can continue to spread the message that treats are best in moderation.
SNACKTIVITY #1 Veggie Skeleton
The “Veggie Skeleton” is simply a skeleton creation made from fresh vegetables. Like all good snacktivities, it can be easily adapted to any age group. The smallest hands can help an adult create the skeleton using pre-cut veggies where the older child can assist in the cutting and chopping of the veggies before the assembly begins!
There are many images of different skeletons which you can have on hand to spark ideas.
Once the skeleton is assembled, you can serve the veggies with hummus or a healthy dip such as Dilly Spinach Dip. Make sure to take a picture before eating!
SNACKTIVITY #2 Funny Apple Faces
You can put the “activity” into this Snacktivity by having your children:
- Run an apple relay race
- Play hot potato with an apple. For added fun, use a Halloween themed song like: Ghost Busters
- Look up apple facts or read a book about apples: All About Apples
The “Apple Jack O Lanterns” are made from apple slices, peanut or other nut butter, carrots, raisins, and whole grain cereal. Offer healthy items for the children to use and let the creativity flow!
Here are a few more tasty ideas from our Eat Smart site:
SNACKTIVITY #3 Pumpkins! Pumpkins! Pumpkins!
There is just something about a pumpkin in the fall! Introduce a pumpkin activity and get ready for the smiles. After the pumpkin fun, treat the children to a pumpkin dessert: Pumpkin Parfait
- Pumpkin Roll: Outside or in a gym, set up a simple path or obstacle course where children have to roll a pumpkin down and back using either their hands or a broom for some “witchy” fun.
- Pumpkin Toss: Using a larger pumpkin with a stem, toss rings onto the pumpkin to earn “Pumpkin Points”.
- Pumpkin Pass: This one is a fun group activity. Get the children to line up facing forward. The child in the front holds the pumpkin and then passes it over their head to the child behind. This child accepts the pumpkin and then passes it between their legs to the child behind. This over/under passing continues until the last child receives the pumpkin. The children can then pass it forward using the same technique. Grown ups can join in on the fun too!
