“You may have seen my daughter and I on WBKO Midday today talking about surviving the Halloween parties without overloading on processed sugars. If you missed it you can watch the video on WBKO.com.”

It’s important to me, to do everything I can to keep my daughter healthy during the holidays. I really want her to be able to fully enjoy all the holiday events and traditions. Since eating or drinking too much sugar suppresses our immune system, making us more prone to sickness, that means limiting candies, desserts, sugary drinks and other treats.

So how can we limit our children’s sugar intake, during a holiday where candy is everywhere? Halloween is known for a ‘scary’ amount of candy and sweet treats with few healthy options. With this in mind, I’m sharing a few favorite recipes to limit sugar without being a ‘party-pooper’.

1. Banana Ghosts.

Ingredients:

bananas, mini chocolate chips, Popsicle sticks.

Directions:

Peel banana and cut in half.
Insert Popsicle stick in cut side.
Make the ghost’s face by pushing 3 chocolate chips into the banana (mouth & eyes).

2. Popcorn.

Keep it simple! Kids love popcorn. Serve it in Halloween themed bags, buckets, bowls or cups.

Ingredients:

Popping corn, real salt, coconut oil.

Directions:

Heat oil on high heat.
Add popcorn to cover the pan.
Sprinkle with salt.
When it begins to pop, cover the pan.
Be careful! The steam will be hot.
When it quits popping, pour in bowl.

3. Popcorn Balls

Ingredients:

10 cups Popcorn, 1 cup natural peanut butter (ingredients should be peanuts or peanuts & oil. NO sugar or additives), 1 TBSP honey, 1/2 cup peanuts (1/4 cup mini chocolate chips optional).

Directions:

Mix all ingredients (add more PB or honey as needed to coat popcorn and peanuts).
Refrigerate 1 hour..
Form into 2½ inch balls.
Insert cake pop sticks (for a special touch, top with a plastic spider ring).
Refrigerate overnight.
Wrap with Halloween themed cellphone.