Pediatrician, Dr. Jen Trachtenberg Shares Tricky Tips and Recipes Kids Will Love
As parents gear up for the Halloween season, calorie and sugar overload is a major concern as princesses and monsters are handed piece after piece of candy. Some families may think Halloween is only one day a year to “splurge” on treats – but teaching kids to seek out nutritious treats during Halloween and throughout the year can influence a lifetime of good decisions and weight management.
Pediatrician Jennifer Trachtenberg, MD, FAAP, mother of three and author of Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children is recommending some tips and treats that will help parents make Halloween healthier without being booed by the kids.
Dr. Jen Trachtenberg is sharing delicious recipes and spooktacular tips– with good for you treats kids will love and ways to continue healthy habits even after Halloween is over:
Fiendishly Full: Give kids a healthy meal or snack before parties and trick-or-treating to prevent your hungry monsters from digging into all of the goodies.
Ghoulish Gifts: Consider handing out non-food treats to your costumed guests, such as mini-books, bubbles, stickers, crayons or stick-on tattoos.
Treat in Disguise: Host a Halloween party and prepare wickedly delicious homemade treats with lowfat chocolate milk, such as Chocolate-Strawberry Shivering Smoothies. It’s a great trick for moms and a deceivingly delicious treat for kids.
Ghostly Goodwill: Let your kids pick out a handful of their favorite trick-or-treat goodies and then give the excess candy to a shelter or other organization where it can be shared among a large group of people in need.
Be really creative. Think outside the box and have a lot of fun with Halloween
-Jennifer Trachtenberg
Chocolate milk, “The Official Drink of Halloween” is a healthy treat in disguise and may be one answer to help curb the excessive consumption of nutrient-void soft drinks and fruit drinks, which some experts say is a major contributor to childhood obesity in this country. Visit whymilk.com to find festive and fun Halloween recipes and tips for hosting healthier Halloween parties.
