Scary "Pizza Faces"
Let kids arrange sliced olives, green peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni, green onions, sliced zucchini, almonds and other goodies on slightly toasted, whole wheat English muffins topped with pizza sauce. Top with grated cheese for "hair" and heat until the cheese melts.

Witches Brew with "Bloody Hand"
It's fun to watch the look on kids' faces when they dip into a punch with a hand floating in it!

Combine 1 liter ginger ale or other clear soda and 16 ounces orange juice concentrate in a large bowl. Or skip the soda altogether and just use orange juice.

For the "bloody hand" pour cranberry juice (or any red beverage) into a plastic glove and seal tightly with a rubber band or string. Don't overfill the glove as the liquid will expand when it freezes. Freeze until the juice is solid. Before serving, run hot water over the glove just long enough to unstick it from the frozen juice, then carefully peel or cut the glove off. Set the "bloody hand" in the punch bowl.

Trick or Treating Tips
1) Just like it's a good idea to eat before grocery shopping, make sure children eat a meal or snack before going trick-or-treating so they won't be tempted to dig into their bag of goodies before they get home.

2) When children get home, check the treats and keep only treats which are unopened. Be sure to inspect fresh fruit and homemade goods.

3) It's better to eat trick-or-treat candy over several days as a substitute for dessert or a few pieces along with a healthy snack. Try putting away some of the goodies (which requires a certain amount of undercover work), and dole it out over time.

5) Give out healthier, but still store-bought treats such as trail mixes, yogurt or carob-covered raisins and peanuts, pretzels, fruit-based chews and snack mixes. Or hand out puffed rice squares, boxes of raisins (though some kids might thank you with a pelting of eggs or a toilet-papered tree), Craisins (dried cranberries), black licorice, granola bars, fruit roll-ups, mini-bags of nuts or popcorn, hard shell nuts, peanut butter-filled cheese crackers, gum, and breakfast bars.

Now, here's a thought: take all the money you would normally spend on Halloween candy, convert it into pennies, nickels and dimes. Put it in a big bowl and let each kid grab a handful. Give them a plastic "ziploc" bag for carrying the coins home.

Halloween brings out the kid in all of us. It's fun to get dressed up in a costume and parade around the neighborhood or go to a party. Treats are a part of the fun. However, treats don't have to be sticky, gooey candy. With a little planning, you and your family can enjoy a healthier Halloween.

Copyright, Marion Owen
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