Judy Dodd, MS RD, LDN, Giant Eagle^® Corporate Nutritionist

Think of Halloween, and you're likely to think of jack o' lanterns, costumes and candy. In many communities, Halloween parties, holiday parades and neighborhood trick-or-treating are all longstanding tradition. The idea of offering a treat — or facing the potential of a trick! — is Halloween tradition, too. Of course, you want to offer tasty treats that please guests of all ages. It's important to keep an eye on health, though — and when children are involved, it makes good sense to plan Halloween treats with safety in mind, too.

When choosing treats, food allergies, food safety, diabetes, and the recent emphasis on limiting sweets in our diets are all issues to consider. In some ways, the rules of Halloween treats have changed over the past several decades. Although many of us remember "collecting, stashing and eating," today’s responsible parent is more likely to be "inspecting, selecting and discarding." Here are some treat ideas to consider, whether you're the treat giver or the treat inspector:

• Tampering is a real and dangerous concern, so select pre-wrapped treats that are factory sealed.
• Small treats are economically and nutritionally ideal. Wrapped, single-serving portions are the safest bet. Yes, it's okay to distribute (and eat!) chocolate and other candies, but each portion should check in at 100 calories or less.
• Consider treats lower in sugar by choosing treats such as:
  • Small bags of pretzels.
  • Single-serving sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or peanuts (but be mindful of those with peanut allergies).
  • Bottles of water or 100-percent juice boxes.
  • A fruit bowl filled with apples, pears, bananas, or kiwi fruits.
  • Small boxes of cereal.
  • Individually wrapped Giant Eagle^® string cheese.
  • Sealed packs of peanut butter- or cheese-filled crackers.
• Forgo giving out homemade treats, or save them for your family and close friends. Children love decorated cookies and homemade trail mix, but unless each parent knows you well and trusts you, these treats are likely to end up in the "discard pile" at home.
• Check out the Giant Eagle^® assortment of non-food treats — like stickers, pencils, pens, and party favors — that kids will love. These "treats" can be bought in bulk and divided for Halloween.

Need more treat ideas? E-mail Nutrition@gianteagle.com.

October 2010