Halloween brings to mind excesses of candy and sweets, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Halloween can be accompanied by healthy eating. The California Raisin Board offers some tips on healthy Halloween eating.

– Plan ahead. A little food planning goes a long way toward helping you make healthier food choices. Plan and pack your snacks and meals the day before — to avoid temptation.

– Choose wisely. Make healthier food choices are that are also delicious. For example, choose Cocoa Raisin Muffins and Pumpkin Pie Popcorn Mix with Raisins as tasty and healthy alternatives to Halloween cookies or candy. Go to http://www.loveyourraisins.com/ for these and other sweet and healthy treats.

– Get moving. Make exercise a fun, family affair. If you’re hosting a Halloween party — either at home or at your children’s school — incorporate games, such as relay races or dancing to get children moving.

– Trick or treat? Most Halloween treats are loaded with sugar and have no nutritional value, and parents are just as tempted as kids to eat them. This Halloween, offer your trick-or-treaters a sweet and wholesome treat — California Raisins! Just 1/4 cup of California Raisins is a serving of fruit, making it a guilt-free treat for children and moms.

For more nutritious, kid-friendly recipes, visit Love Your Raisins.com

^{(image © istockphoto)}

Post from: Blisstree

Tips for a Healthy Halloween

Golden Raisin and Carrot Salad
Makes 8 servings

Salad
1⁄2 cup golden raisins
8 medium carrots, peeled and coarsely shredded
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
3⁄4 teaspoon salt

Dressing
3 tablespoons safflower oil
1 tablespoon whole yellow mustard seeds
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon peel
1⁄8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1⁄2 cup peanuts, coarsely chopped for topping

For salad:
Place the raisins in a small bowl and cover with hot water. Let stand for 1 hour, then drain. In a large salad bowl, combine the raisins, carrots, parsley, and salt.

For dressing:
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat, and add the mustard seeds. In a few seconds, they will begin to pop. As soon as popping starts, add the sesame seeds and cook until these start to pop or turn a golden brown. Pour the oil and toasted seeds over the carrot mixture. Add the lemon juice, lemon peel, and pepper. Toss gently until well blended. Sprinkle with the peanuts immediately before serving.

^{(recipe and cover art courtesy of the Lisa Ekus Group)}

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Post from: Blisstree

Golden Raisin and Carrot Salad with Peanuts