Healthy Habits: Halloween snacks

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – We all know Halloween means lots and lots of candy, but you want to make sure you and your kids still are getting the right amount of nutrients in between all those sweets.

Experts say you can stay healthy this Halloween by doing the following:

• Eat balanced meals and snacks
• Stay hydrated
• Buy Halloween candy a day or two before
• Rethink the size of your candy bowl
• Use smaller trick-or-treat bags

Other tips include:

• Think outside the candy bowl
• Keep it safe – check your treats before eating them!
• Be aware of any food allergies of kids or adults you’ll be feeding
• Focus on games, crafts and pumpkin carving, too
• Sneak in some fruits and vegetables

Some easy, Halloween-themed snacks include healthy pumpkins (a mandarin orange with a piece of a cheese stick as the stem) and spooky ants on a log (celery with peanut butter and candied googly-eyes).

You can also make apple nachos! Just slice up a few apples, drizzle peanut butter and honey over them, then add your preferred toppings. This can include things like chocolate chips, raisins, hemp hearts and sunflower seeds.

6 News anchor Megan Viecelli talked with Sarah Smith, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian with the University of Michigan Health-Sparrow, about some Halloween-themed snacks you can incorporate into your diet this year.

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