Halloween Healthy Trick-or-Treat Alternatives

I just love our Lulu Ladies & Babies message board. I love the see the questions and topics that come up, things the moms are thinking about, talking about.

A thread was started by one of the mom members who is doing a little poll this Halloween season. Being in the education industry, this mom is right in the middle of a big "healthy schools campaign." This year, she is going the give the little trick-or-treaters that come to her door a choice. They can either have a goody bag with some stickers and a pencil or candy. She is wondering what the consensus will be on the choice given. What do you think?

My husband read the thread over my shoulder and says... "you better tell her to buy a big jug on vinegar... that is the best way to get egg of the house" Smartie pants.

After reading the thread and some of the replies, I decided to take the healthy trick-or-treat discussion to my Mom Organizer Group, Not Just Moms. With close to 1,200 moms group organizers on one forum, I figured there would be lots of say on the topic and I was right.

Many of the responders applaud the decision to do a healthy alternative. Lots of great suggestions were given.

1. mini pretzel bags
2. mini fruit snacks
3. mini tubs of play-doh
4. pencils, stickers
5. temp. tattoos
6. raisins
7. toothbrush

A few responders were very honest and said the candy is what it's all about. One of the responses read, "really Halloween is all about the candy. I wouldn't do a birthday party without a birthday cake, and it wouldn't be Halloween without candy." I also like the honesty of, "I give out candy, too. Then I pull a little bit out of my daughter's bag for her to have and take the rest to work. Better my co-workers get fat than my kid."

I for one, applaud those who are thinking about this and offering an alternative. My boys have been avid trick-or-treaters for a few years now. We live on a small street, they only visit a handful of houses and still seem to come home with an arsenal of chocolate bars, chips, jujubes, rockets and lollipops. I also still like the idea of candy at Halloween. I am big on tradition and to me Halloween trick-or-treat and mini chocolate bars are entwined in tradition.

So if any of you end up at my house this Halloween eve, you will find me at the door handing you a mini Kit Kat AND a small tub of play-doh. I just don't want to have to get out the big tub of vinegar.

In good health,

Susan

Chocolate Milk - Nutrition in Disguise?

My boys (ages 6 and 3) have never been big milk drinkers and I know for a fact from talking to other parents that I am not alone. It's always been a personal challenge to fit more milk into their diets as a way to get their daily dose of Vitamin D and calcium. They are fine with other dairy items such as cheese and yogurt but when it comes to actually drinking the white stuff, they are both a miss.

They do however, like chocolate milk and will drink it at any opportunity given. This got me to thinking, "is chocolate milk and acceptable substitute for traditional white milk?"

I did a little searching around the Internet on the subject and was happy and surprised to find out some information I thought I would share.

Chocolate milk contains the same nine essential nutrients as white milk. Flavored milk provides calcium, protein, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin B12, potassium, phosphorus, riboflavin and niacin.

Chocolate milk comes in many varieties, including reduced fat, low fat and fat free. For example, a 1 cup serving of low fat flavored milk has only 2.5 grams of fat per serving, the exact amount as in white milk.

The ingredients in chocolate milk are much less likely to cause cavities than soft drinks and sticky snack foods. Liquids such as flavored milk clear the mouth faster. Some studies suggest that the cocoa in chocolate milk may actually protect against cavities.

The amount of caffeine in chocolate milk is similar to the amount found in decaffeinated drinks. An 8-ounce serving of chocolate milk contains between 2 mg and 7 mg of caffeine. According to recent evidence, the amount of caffeine in chocolate milk is too small to have a detrimental effect on a child's behavior.

Children who consume chocolate milk did not have higher intakes of added sugars or total fat in their overall diet in comparison with children who do not consume flavored milk.

That being said, I am a little more confident to serve the brown stuff. I think that ideally, if your child likes white milk it is a preferable choice but in the event that they don't drink milk at all unless it's that of the chocolate variety, it is a superior alternative to just drinking juice. In the end, the only case I could find against chocolate milk comes with adding any flavour to milk adds sugar and calories to an otherwise healthy drink.

In good health,

Susan