It is Halloween, and parents are preparing nationwide to deal with their children's bellyaches caused by too much candy. But if those tummies are filled before the children hit the streets, tonight could be a little less painful.
Liquidlibrary
Between costumes, neighborhood parties, trick-or-treating and all the other Halloween madness, most households won't have a lot of time to sit down for a healthy, wholesome dinner. But experts say it is worth taking a few minutes to have your children eat something healthy before they delve into their piles of treats.
The same goes for parents, too.
Christine Gutelius is a registered dietitian and nutrition educator, but she is also a mother and a grandmother. She knows how busy a family can get on Halloween, or any other holiday. But if people can think of something that is not too demanding, there can still be time for everyone to eat on the go.
“Make it a simple meal, but eat something,” said Gutelius, who teaches nutrition classes through the Cornell Cooperative Extension. “A sandwich, a simple hot meal, a piece of fruit and a glass of milk.”
The best way you can make sure to get some grub on the gut is to have a plan, according to Jessica Herron, a dietitian for the Finger Lakes Weight Loss program. Heron said that she and a client will often sit down with a pen and paper and write down daily meals as holidays approach. The key, she said, is to make sure that people don't go to parties or events while they are still hungry.
“A lot of people end up skipping meals prior to the event, and then they over-eat,” Herron said. “But if you maintain a regular meal schedule, you can keep from being overwhelmed.”
Herron also said to watch what she called “grazing” activity such as eating fast food or grabbing and going, which are common around Halloween and other holidays.
“The bottom line is that people need to plan ahead,” she said.
Gutelius and Herron also stressed that it is important to regulate the amount of junk food children eat once they bring their goodies home. It's not a good idea to give them a green light with a sack full of candy, they said.
“You can have pretty sick, uncomfortable kids if you let them pig out,” Gutelius said. “Negotiate a reasonable serving. Pick two or three (pieces) for tonight, and then start portioning it out.”
Herron said it is also a good idea to limit the amount of available junk food in the house by giving away something besides candy. She suggested small toys or stickers, or perhaps snack packs containing crackers or cookies, which have less sugar than a chocolate bar.
“I would still not buy excess amounts for the household,” Herron added.
People should also remember that children are not the only ones who can get carried away on Halloween.
Parents who remember to make themselves eat a meal may not find themselves nosing though the candy after everyone is in bed.
“Sometimes parents are raiding the candy longer than the kids are,” Gutelius said. “Put it up high somewhere. When things are easy to reach, of course you are more likely to get into it.”
These two easy recipes might help make sure your family won't head to Halloween events on an empty stomach. Serve them together for a more complete meal.
Mummy dogs
8-count package of refrigerated crescent rolls (low-fat rolls are fine)
8 reduced-fat kosher hot dogs
mustard or ketchup
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Unwrap crescent rolls and divide into eight triangles. Pull the dough taught and wrap each roll around a different hot dog. Place on a baking sheet and bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until the dough is golden brown. Remove from the oven and place two mustard or ketchup dots on each of the mummy dogs for eyes.
Carrot and Raisin Salad
8-ounce can of crushed pineapple with juice
1/3 cup of non-fat sour cream
1/3 cup of non-fat mayonnaise
6 cups of grated carrots 1/2 cup of raisins
Drain pineapples while saving 3 tablespoons of juice, mix juice with sour cream and mayonnaise in a large bowl, stir in crushed pineapple, carrots and raisins, refrigerate. Serve cold.
- Source: suite101.com
The same goes for parents, too.
Christine Gutelius is a registered dietitian and nutrition educator, but she is also a mother and a grandmother. She knows how busy a family can get on Halloween, or any other holiday. But if people can think of something that is not too demanding, there can still be time for everyone to eat on the go.
“Make it a simple meal, but eat something,” said Gutelius, who teaches nutrition classes through the Cornell Cooperative Extension. “A sandwich, a simple hot meal, a piece of fruit and a glass of milk.”
The best way you can make sure to get some grub on the gut is to have a plan, according to Jessica Herron, a dietitian for the Finger Lakes Weight Loss program. Heron said that she and a client will often sit down with a pen and paper and write down daily meals as holidays approach. The key, she said, is to make sure that people don't go to parties or events while they are still hungry.
“A lot of people end up skipping meals prior to the event, and then they over-eat,” Herron said. “But if you maintain a regular meal schedule, you can keep from being overwhelmed.”
Herron also said to watch what she called “grazing” activity such as eating fast food or grabbing and going, which are common around Halloween and other holidays.
“The bottom line is that people need to plan ahead,” she said.
Gutelius and Herron also stressed that it is important to regulate the amount of junk food children eat once they bring their goodies home. It's not a good idea to give them a green light with a sack full of candy, they said.
“You can have pretty sick, uncomfortable kids if you let them pig out,” Gutelius said. “Negotiate a reasonable serving. Pick two or three (pieces) for tonight, and then start portioning it out.”
Herron said it is also a good idea to limit the amount of available junk food in the house by giving away something besides candy. She suggested small toys or stickers, or perhaps snack packs containing crackers or cookies, which have less sugar than a chocolate bar.
“I would still not buy excess amounts for the household,” Herron added.
People should also remember that children are not the only ones who can get carried away on Halloween.
Parents who remember to make themselves eat a meal may not find themselves nosing though the candy after everyone is in bed.
“Sometimes parents are raiding the candy longer than the kids are,” Gutelius said. “Put it up high somewhere. When things are easy to reach, of course you are more likely to get into it.”
These two easy recipes might help make sure your family won't head to Halloween events on an empty stomach. Serve them together for a more complete meal.
Mummy dogs
8-count package of refrigerated crescent rolls (low-fat rolls are fine)
8 reduced-fat kosher hot dogs
mustard or ketchup
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Unwrap crescent rolls and divide into eight triangles. Pull the dough taught and wrap each roll around a different hot dog. Place on a baking sheet and bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until the dough is golden brown. Remove from the oven and place two mustard or ketchup dots on each of the mummy dogs for eyes.
Carrot and Raisin Salad
8-ounce can of crushed pineapple with juice
1/3 cup of non-fat sour cream
1/3 cup of non-fat mayonnaise
6 cups of grated carrots 1/2 cup of raisins
Drain pineapples while saving 3 tablespoons of juice, mix juice with sour cream and mayonnaise in a large bowl, stir in crushed pineapple, carrots and raisins, refrigerate. Serve cold.
- Source: suite101.com
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