Healthy Halloween

The shops might be stocked full of lollies this Halloween, but that doesn’t mean your pantry has to be too. Here’s five healthier ways you can enjoy this spooky holiday together with your family.

1. Focus on costumes

Planning your costumes, face painting and decorating the outside of your home together are fun ways to get into the spirit of Halloween.

2. Get your kids into the kitchen

Instagram and Pinterest offer tonnes of super easy healthy Halloween snack ideas you can make together. Our favourites are:

• ‘Boo’nana ghosts: Half a banana decorated with choc chip eyes and nose
• Clementine pumpkins: A peeled mandarin with a mini cucumber wedge as a stalk
• Jack-o’-lantern capsicums: Carved capsicums filled with hummus to dip into with grainy crackers and veggie sticks. Try our Hummus with capsicum and pepitas recipe.

These are also perfect for lunch boxes or after school snacks.

3. Step to it together

Trick or treating is exercise in disguise (we won’t tell them if you don’t!) This evening stroll is the perfect way to clock up extra steps with your family and fosters a sense of community.

4. Savour the season

Embrace the spooky charm of the season and enjoy pumpkin soup for your evening meal.

5. Stock up on ghoulish novelty treats

Fun treats also include stickers, glow-in-the-dark wrist bands, fake spiders and temporary tattoos, so don’t be afraid to stock up on these instead of chocolate and lollies. For a greener Halloween, goodies like pencils, seeds or bookmarks always go down a treat!

Eating more nutritious foods every day, eating less junk foods and increasing physical activity can help reduce your cancer risk. Learn more about the link between lifestyle factors and cancer.

This blog was written by Karissa Deutrom, the Nutrition Lead at Cancer Council SA. She is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Health Journalist.