For many kids, Halloween means dressing up in a spooky costume and going door to door picking up bags full of candy. Meanwhile, for adults, that might mean a Halloween party with food and drink that doesn’t shy away from sugar and fat.
Because it’s so easy to overdo it during your Halloween celebrations, it’s important that you make healthier choices to avoid sugar headaches and maintain your health goals. Here are some simple yet effective steps you can take to help you and your kids stay on the path to wellness this Halloween.
1. Supervise children while they do trick or treat | family locator
Most kids love nothing more than spending Halloween night with their friends, wearing their spookiest costumes, knocking on doors and asking for candy. However, if you are a parent, you must ensure that they remain safe and sound at all times.
The Family Locator app can help stay connected to your child using GPS on their mobile phone. In addition to tracking, you can use the app to create a safe zone where your child can do tricks. So if they leave the safe zone, you will immediately receive an alert.
To download: Family locator for iOS | android (Free, subscription available)
2. Prepare to Carry Goodie Bags | StrongLifts
Until your children are older, you should always do tricks with them. But when they get tired and grumpy from all the sugar, you’ll probably be the one carrying all the goody bags. Make sure you’re ready for this endurance feat and use the StrongLifts bodybuilding app to boost your muscle gains.
The app is simple, yet highly customizable. You can change just about everything from weight, sets, reps and increments to exercises and workout order. Plus, you can track your workout progress to monitor your improvement.
To download: Strong Lifts for iOS | android (Free, subscription available)
3. Eat a healthy dinner before | FitMaleCook
Before anyone goes out to collect buckets full of candy, be sure to eat a healthy and hearty dinner. Trick-or-treating on an empty stomach will only lead children to overeat sugary treats.
FitMenCook is a fantastic app because it can help you easily find handy recipes that match your specific preferences, whether you’re looking for something budget-friendly, low-fat, or quick and easy. Each recipe includes a list of basic steps, nutritional information, and a button to add ingredients to the app’s built-in shopping list.
To download: FitMenCooking for iOS | android (Free, subscription available)
4. Count your steps during a sleight of hand | step counter
While you’re outdoors, why not count your steps simultaneously? Count your steps is the perfect way to stick to your daily goals and even get motivated on your weight loss journey. Step Counter, an app from Leap Fitness, automatically counts your steps using its built-in sensor.
Based on your step count, the app then creates a report where you can track your calories, time, and total walking distance. Also, while walking you can collect various badges and unlock new levels.
To download: Step counter for iOS | android (Free, subscription available)
5. Teach children to make healthy choices | Food viewfinder
Sure, you can forbid your kids from eating too many sugary treats, but do they know why these foods are bad? Foodvisor can improve your children’s nutritional knowledge with its daily food diary.
Let the little ones scan the barcode on the items in their candy pack to see the total calories, protein, fat, carbs, fiber and vitamins. Also, the app includes a rating for each food with healthy items showing a happy face and bad items showing an unhappy face.
To download: Foodvisor for iOS | android (Free, subscription available)
6. Hand out healthy treats | Healthnut nutrition
Halloween is a balancing act, so don’t completely ban candy, instead incorporate healthy alternatives to unhealthy ones. Children are sure to refuse items such as vegetables and fruits. However, they won’t even know they’re eating something healthy if you follow HealthNut Nutrition’s Halloween treat recipes.
The video shows how to cure your favorite Halloween candies, including Twix chocolate bars, ROLO chocolates and gummy bears. You can find tons of healthy recipes, hacks and meal prep videos on the HealthNut Nutrition YouTube Channeltoo.
7. Host a sugar-free Halloween party | sugar free mom
For those throwing their own Halloween party this year, steer clear of sugar-filled snacks. Visit the sugar free mom blog if you need help finding spooky delicious foods this year that are completely sugar free!
A few must-try treats include blueberry and cream mummy cookies and witch finger cookies. Along with themed recipes, the blog has a huge collection of appetizing dishes that you can serve at your Halloween party, as well as interesting courses and challenges.
8. Brush before bed | Monster Brush
Ultimately, you’re unlikely to completely avoid eating sugary treats on Halloween. Yet you and the little ones can still protect your teeth from cavities. So turn toothbrushing into a fun activity with the Brush Monster toothbrushing app.
The app uses augmented reality (AR) so kids can follow the interactive guide as they brush their teeth. After brushing, they will be rewarded with stickers that they can collect daily. Plus, if you have a smart toothbrush, you can sync it to the app to track your brushing data.
To download: Brush Monster for iOS | android (Free)
9. Remember to have a well-rested night | Sleep
Relaxing after a busy day of tricks or treats is extremely important. The bad news is that too much candy can cause insomnia and restless sleep. Sleep is a app that can soothe you to sleep in minutes with its variety of sleepy stories, meditations and sounds.
Plus, there’s even a special section for children’s stories. To help you switch off, there is a collection of Halloween stories that feature zero jump scares and won’t leave you spooked. You can even add additional background sounds, like rustling leaves, birds, and rain.
To download: sleep for iOS | android (Free, subscription available)
Make Your Halloween Scream Wholesome With These Tips
Halloween is mostly about costumed kids bringing home bags full of candy, but if you’re not careful, it can be bad for your well-being. With a little planning, these simple steps can help you feel a little better after a night of too many snacks.
