Many people believe the concept of "healthy Halloween" is a classic oxymoron. It’s true that once we all were children who loved Halloween and collecting all the candy we could fit into our treat bag. But parents who want their children to have healthy teeth and bodies may take one for the team and risk being regarded as "Halloween Scrooges" in an effort to minimize the impact of Halloween on their kids and the environment.
Children Eat More Sugar than CarrotsConsider the following facts for a moment: The U.S. census bureau says 36 million kids aged five to 13 go trick-or-treating each year. If you add children younger than five and older than 13, that number expands further. The per capita consumption of candy was 26 pounds per person in 2006. Much of that sugar is consumed at this time of year. What is even more frightening is that this twice the amount of carrots eaten!
High fructose corn syrup is Halloween’s most ubiquitous ghoul as a leading contributor to childhood obesity and other sugar related diseases. It is often made from genetically modified corn and refined from genetically modified enzymes. In addition to the nutritional pitfalls of Halloween are the environmental and social impacts chocolate can have. Cacao beans are often coated with heavy doses of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. UNICEF has reported on the pervasiveness of child slavery on cacao plantations, and low wages being paid to farmers. The good news is that there are healthy alternatives for children and the environment which can make everyone happy.
Compromise is the Key
Be prepared for a lot of resistance when trying to protect your little pumpkins from tooth decay, diabetes and obesity. The trick is to compromise and look for teachable moments. Halloween is a great time to reemphasize the concepts of moderation and sharing. A little candy is better than a sad Halloween that they hold against us for the rest of our lives as "the worst Halloween ever."
Many children will forgo the candy at some houses and ask for a donation to the March Of Dimes instead. Try to exchange a portion of their leftover candy for something that will be good for their health, like a pair of roller skates, a rip stick, or a fun activity to do as a family. Small changes can make Halloween a lot less scary for parents and the environment without making it any less fun for kids.
Below are some suggestions for how to celebrate Halloween in a healthier and greener way:
Fun Treats to Share
- Stickers
- Jokes
- Pencils and erasers
- Coins
- Bags of whole wheat pretzels or crackers
- Pumpkin seeds
- Bags of organic popcorn- popped or unpopped
- Packages of granola
- Fair trade chocolate
Happy Hallow-GREEN!
- Walk with your children from house to house rather than driving to cut down on fossil fuel consumption and air pollution
- Instead of throwing away Halloween decorations, save for the following year
- Use duarable and reusable treat bags that can be used next year
- Use soy or beeswax candles in your jack-o-lantern rather than those that are petroleum based
- Use natural make-up on your children to avoid chemicals
- Hand out fair trade or organic chocolates, organic hard candy, fruit snacks, or other ecofriendly edibles to all those cute trick-or-treaters. Global Exchange evens sells a Fair Trade Trick or Treat Action Kit that includes individually wrapped chocolates along with Halloween-themed informational postcards
- Use leftover pumpkins for baking or composting
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