If you’re celebrating Halloween this year and don’t want to fall off the wagon, you might be wondering how to have a healthy Halloween. You’re probably expecting us to link to some healthy Halloween “treats” such as this thing from the Food Network, or perhaps tell you how your kids will enjoy slices of apples with peanut butter and sunflower seed “teeth” just as much as they’ll enjoy a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Newsflash, they won’t.
There is more to health than simply the nutrients that go into your body. At the ISN HQ, we’re not going to lie and say we won’t enjoy a piece of candy, or two. It’s Halloween! Food is a way to connect with people, and on Halloween enjoying a piece of your favorite candy and chatting about your favorite candies with your family is part of the holiday.
With that being said, here are three ways to enjoy a healthy Halloween by burning some calories, getting into the spirit of the holiday, and without going overboard and feeling terrible the next day.
Healthy Halloween idea number 1:
If you have kids, go Trick or Treating with them! No, don’t literally collect candy from your neighbors – those are for the kids – but do walk around with them. It’s fun to see people in costume, and you’ll get a great workout.
Walking, while not as immediately effective as high intensity exercise, is still a great way to keep yourself moving and to burn calories. Walking around your neighborhood for two hours can burn 500 calories! Talk about making space for a piece of your favorite candy at the end of the night.
Idea number 2:
Go carve some pumpkins! Once again, this is an activity (so you’re moving) that isn’t totally centered on food, but is centered on the spirit of Halloween. Everyone loves walking up to a house with a Jack O’Latern out front – so don’t be the one leaving the porch dark.
Sipping on some hot cider while carving pumpkins may just be the most “fall” activity we can think of, and if you go the extra step and roast the pumpkin seeds after you carve, you even get a delicious snack to enjoy while watching scary movies later. Win-win.
Idea number 3:
Decorate your house! It sounds strange, but house work is actually a great calorie burner. Decorating keeps you up on your feet, and way more importantly, it gets you into the spirit of the holiday. Plus, if you pick things up to decorate today, on Halloween, they’re already on sale!
Pumpkin lights, creepy (and fake) cobwebs, candles, and scary noise makers are all great options. Have some fun with it, and get a costume to wear while you wait outside for trick or treaters. Always fun to give a little trick with your treat!
