Guilt-Free Halloween

Check out these great Halloween ideas from http://www.makehealthyfun.blogspot/. The blog has other healthy ideas for your family for not only Halloween, but every day living.

Halloween is a festive day that kids enjoy, because they get dressed up and get treats. Enjoy the holiday with your kids, but carefully plan what you will do at your house to assure that healthy eating habits are practiced. This can be challenging, since the goal of most children is to get as much Halloween candy as possible for their own private stash. Help kids enjoy Halloween without overindulging. If you and your family eat sensibly all year, then kids know how to make wise decisions when they are tempted to overindulge with unhealthy foods.

Don't send your children trick-or-treating on an empty stomach. Make sure they eat a good healthy meal beforehand to reduce the urge to snack.

Trick-or-treat bags that children carry should be appropriate to their size. Older kids can carry larger bags, but not as large as a shopping bag or plastic garbage bag.

Limit the houses your children can visit to a two or three block radius. That way the treats will most likely come from neighbors and friends, and the moderate amount of treats will be manageable.

Instruct children to wait until they get home to eat any of their goodies so that you can inspect them first. Let them keep only treats that are wrapped commercially. Inspect and throw away any commercially wrapped treats with signs of tampering- tears in wrappers, tiny pinholes, unusual appearance or discoloration.

You don't have to pass out high calorie candy to trick-or-treaters at your house this year. Give them a variety of fun, non-candy alternatives to promote health rather than encourage unhealthy choices.

Healthy Trick-or-Treat Alternatives

Childhood obesity is increasing at an alarming rate, doubling over the past 30 years. Eating in moderation and becoming more physically active could reduce obesity rates in children. When trick or treaters ring your doorbell, what will you give them? Try nutritious, tasty foods and non-food options, including items that get children up and moving to use the extra calories they consume. Make Halloween a healthier and more inclusive holiday for children and adolescents with diabetes and other health-related dietary restrictions by offering non-sugar treats.

Healthy Food Treats: Think outside the box when choosing treats for trick-or-treaters or party-goers. The calories in all those bite-size Halloween treats add up quickly. Four "bite size" chocolate bars contain approximately 320 calories, 25 jelly beans have 140 calories, and 20 pieces of candy corn add up to 100 calories.

There are other treats that are lower in fat and sugar but may provide vitamins, minerals and fiber. The possibilities for healthy food treats are endless. Set a good example for your own children and the neighborhood kids by passing out healthy treats like these instead of giving them candy.

cereal bars

snack packets of dried fruit, baked pretzels, nut and seeds (e.g. peanuts*, unsalted almonds, sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds)

trail mix

packages of low-fat crackers with cheese or peanut* butter filling

animal crackers

gold fish crackers

graham crackers

Cracker jacks

100 calorie packs of various products

beef or turkey jerky

single serve boxes of ready-to-eat cereal

raisins and chocolate covered raisins

fig cookies

sugar-free gum or hard candy

gummy candies made with real juice

mini boxes of raisins

individual juice drinks (100% juice)

snack pack pudding

Jello with fruit

applesauce

bean dip

single-serve packets of low-fat microwave popcorn

sugar-free hot chocolate or apple cider packets


*Be careful of peanut allergies.

Fresh fruits (e.g. apples, bananas and oranges) are very nutritious treats, but they are no longer safe options. Remember that individually wrapped items are best. If you choose candy for treats, look for those that are lower in fat and sugar. Choose bite-size candy bars based on the least amount of fat and calories per serving. Better choices are: 3 Musketeers; 100 Grand Bar; Butterfinger; Milky Way; Raisinets; Starburst and York Peppermint Patties.

In addition, consider healthier dark chocolate versions.

Non-food Treats: Children also will enjoy non-food treats** like the items typically given in birthday goodie bags.

small toys and pocket-sized games

glow sticks

costume jewelry (plastic rings, necklaces and bracelets)

funny Halloween glasses

false teeth

miniature magnifying glasses

tiny decks of cards

small stuffed animals

pencils

pencil toppers and fancy erasers

markers

stickers, including reflective safety stickers

rub-on or stick-on temporary tattoos

bookmarks

crayons

coloring tablets

paint brushes

pages from coloring books

children's magazines or comic books

bottles of bubbles

coins (pennies, nickels, dimes)

fake money

whistles

toothbrushes

used books

coupons from a yogurt store or juice bar**


Some treats fit all ages, but small items should be limited to kids over age three.

Treats to Promote Activity: Encourage kids to be more physically active by giving small, inexpensive toys to get them up and moving.

a bouncy ball

a jump rope

sidewalk chalk for drawing a hopscotch or foursquare game

a beanbag for hacky sack

a plastic or foam flier

Reviewed and adapted for use by Janis G. Hunter, HGIC Nutrition Specialist, and Katherine L. Cason, Professor, State Program Leader for Food Safety and Nutrition at Clemeson University

Firemen vs. Coast Guard

The competition - today was a fantastic day - my friend and I walked on the beach and then headed over to the firemen vs Coast Guard competition - it was a fundraiser for a local charity. The competitions were so fun, some typical, like a tug of war, but then there was one I'd never seen, but was hilarious! Each team had a paddle with a tennis ball on the small end. They had to place their forehead on the tennis ball and run around the paddle a certain number of times - those dizzy firemen and Coast Guard guys were stumbling around the beach in a relay that was so much fun to watch...

Firemen vs Coast Guard

Taco Temple

I am very excited about an upcoming event at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. I have been there for the planning from the beginning and it's so great to see how it's all come together. Come enjoy music, food, receive free health screenings and so much more!

On October 30 and 31, 2009, the First Annual HANDS on Health event invites the entire community to join together for two days of festivities featuring health in an interactive, fun and entertaining atmosphere.

This regional event is expected to bring together more than 5,000 participants over the course of the symposium's two days.

Friday’s events will showcase national and local research that expands our understanding of health for an audience of educators, medical professionals, students and scientists.

Saturday's events will focus on individual, family, and community health featuring games, workshops, educational booths, music, food and activities.

Participants can expect to taste new recipes, watch cooking demonstrations, check their blood pressure, get screened for risk factors and more.

Healthy Trick or Treat

Check out these cute Trick or Treat Bags at www.MakeHealthyFun.blogspot.com

Shrink Plastic Halloween Treats

Here's a great idea for Halloween treats and a take home gift too! The cupcake decorations are made from shrink plastic, adhered to sticks with Aleene's Tack-It Over & Over or you could use double stick tape. After the cupcakes are devoured, remove the stick and it's now a cute pin!!! Check out this and other fun shrink plastic ideas at http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/guide-to-shrink-plastic/6325538

Memorial Service & Family

Yesterday was an interesting day filled with sadness, adventure and family. My family met in Bakersfield and then ventured out to the tiny town of Arvin for my uncle's memorial service at the Bakersfield National Cemetery. It is a new cemetery set among beautiful hills with majestic oaks. There was a 21 gun salute and the playing of taps. We went back to a restaurant in Bakersfield and heard about his life, his friends and his family. Uncle Warren was quite the daredevil - he loved to hang glide (he and my dad owned a hang glider together), they owned a Taylorcraft airplane together and they both loved to waterski. Hmmm...I think that makes my dad a daredevil, too!

My uncle built a Varieze airplane in his garage and people told of the first flights.

Twelve out of twenty-one first cousins were there. I hadn't seen most of them in seven years.

A cousin told us about Dewar's in downtown Bakersfield, so we had to go try the ice cream and 'chews'. So adorable inside!!!

The ceiling was so cute! They'd even glued some mosaic pieces to the ceiling and I do believe that is 3D paint accents.

RIP, Uncle Warren...

Life is so precious, my friends...the house across the street had a fire inside. Watching the fireman do their job and the care they are giving to my neighbor's dogs is fantastic! I have a high school friend who is a county fire marshall and every time I talk to him, I thank him for the tireless job he does.

Glass Butterfly Pen

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the tiny town of Harmony, California to pick up my sister-in-law's glass pieces she made at a glassblowing class at Harmony Glassworks. They have so many beautiful pieces in their gift shop and one in particular caught my eye - a glass writing pen with a butterfly at the end of it. They didn't have a color I really liked, so Chris, a glassblowing genius, offered to make me one using my favorite color burgundy. Isn't it beautiful??? Thanks, Chris! Here's there website http://www.ericdandurand.com/

Canned Heat

Morro Bay Harbor Festival

I didn't realize what a big deal the band Canned Heat was until after I heard them play at the Morro Bay Harbor Festival today...here's a bit about their history.

Canned Heat gained international attention and secured their niche in the pages of rock ‘n roll history with their performances at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival (along with Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Who) and the headlining slot at the original Woodstock Festival in 1969.

It was a beautiful day in Morro Bay and there were tons of people enjoying several bands, lots of wine and beer and good food.