Healthy Halloween Treats Kids Will Love

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Halloween is an opportunity for strengthening community, with many people walking door-to-door around their neighborhoods. It’s a time to foster imaginations as kids (and adults) dress up as superheroes, princesses or villains. It’s a time of delivering treats, seeing gap-toothed grins and hearing “thank you” from Elsa and Harry Potter as they head down the street.

If you’re thinking of ways to make this Halloween more healthful or are looking for treats made without common food allergens, we’ve put together some ideas for you. There are many healthy Halloween options—ones kids will love! Our ideas include items free of allergens but full of fun.

  1. Consider fruit snacks: Annie’s Bunny Fruit Snacks are organic and made without common food allergens. Like all items found at Lakewinds, these are free of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.
  2. Include everyone by offering allergen-free treats: If your child or their friend has food allergies, you know how disappointed kids are when they can’t have the same treats as their friends. In addition to the Annie’s fruit snacks above, YumEarth Organic Pops and Clif Kid Organic Fruit Rope may be good options. Be sure to read all ingredient lists carefully to make sure they’re approved for anyone who has dietary concerns.
  3. Find more ideas in the aisles: There are other healthy Halloween snacks in the aisles of your local co-op. For example, Envirokidz Berry Blast Crispy Rice Bars are made without dairy or gluten. Raspberry licorice bars from Panda and Glee chewing gum are also unique treats that kids will love.
  4. Bring healthy Halloween to parties: How about bringing a big bowl of fresh, locally grown apples to a costume party? They’re as sweet as anything you can buy in a wrapper. This month, look for sweet Honeycrisps from local Cedar Hill Orchard.
  5. Make fun party favors: If you’re hosting a party, a fun favor to send home is a cup of organic popcorn seeds in a single serve baggie. Print out directions and tie them to the top to surprise your friends and neighbors. What a treat!

 

Stovetop Popcorn

  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 2/3 cup popcorn kernels
  • Melted butter, if desired
  • Salt

Add the coconut oil and three popcorn kernels to a large pot or Dutch oven. Cover and turn heat to medium-high. Once all three kernels have popped, remove the popped kernels, add the remaining corn to the pot and cover. Take the pot off the heat, wait 30 seconds, put the pot back on the stove and cook while shaking the pot occasionally. (If you’re using butter, you can melt it now.) Once the popping slows down (after about 2 minutes), remove from heat and take the lid off the pot. Pour the butter over the popcorn if desired, sprinkle with salt and toss until coated. Serve.

Have a wholesome, healthy, happy Halloween!