This is a Guest post by Shauna Johnson, nutrition instructor at WellSpring Academies.
The experts at Wellspring (www.wellspringacademies.com) , the leading treatment program for overweight children and teens, have several recommendations for parents this year at Halloween:
-  Wait to buy your candy. We tend to eat what’s in the pantry. This year, try waiting until Halloween day to buy your candy or at least hide it somewhere until then. Odds are everyone will be snacking a bit less on this year’s treats.
-  Plan your own activity. Halloween is about having fun, not hoarding stashes of candy. Corn mazes, haunted houses, even …read more

With Halloween only a few weeks away, I’m sure many of you are imagining how much candy your little one is about to consume. Children that will go outside and knock on doors wearing ghosts, goblins, little witches, super heroes,etc with their pillow cases in hand until they get too full of candy that they have to run home and deposit their winnings on the living room floor.
Once the bags are empty the children are off and running again in the hopes to score more sugary goodness.  Never thinking as they pile one candy bar into their mouth after another.  …read more

Instead of giving out candy this Halloween, why not explore alternatives? It’s not what tradition calls for, but it could be a healthier option for your kids. Give their sweet tooth a rest, but still maintain the fun quotient with these candy alternatives.

Temporary Tattoos
Small novelty toys (ex. rubber spiders, bouncing balls, etc.)
Stickers
Halloween-inspired toys (ex. plastic vampire teeth, slime, etc.)
Crayons and small coloring books
Glow sticks
Bubbles
Masks
Pretzels
Sugar-free Candy
Popcorn Balls
Kiddie Toothbrush and Toothpaste — for them to use after eating the candy they get from other homes!

No candy?! No succulently sweet, glue-my-teeth-together candy? It may not make you the most popular home on the …read more

Okay, it’s just a few more days before the halloween activities begin.   I bet you and your family are already excited with the planning and preparations for halloween parties, trick or treat costumes and what not.
I’ve searched the web and compile a list of things and ideas to make this a “green” Halloween.
So here it is,  the 16 Green Halloween Tips
Tips from Teri Goldberg
1. Email party invites instead of using paper or cardboard greeting cards.  (save the trees)
2. Make use of all pumpkin parts.
(I remember seeing pumpkin soup sometime before in the food channel. )
3.  Use reusable plates, …read more