How We Halloween!

With very little ones over here, Halloween isn't yet the big exciting holiday that it will become in their minds. And we know it's only going to get harder. But here are a few steps we're taking to try to set some healthy habits now! 

1. Healthy all week! 

We've bookmarked every listicle and Pinterest board of healthy Halloween treats. Banana ghosts, witch's fingers, apple mouths, and creepy mummy fingers! Each day of the week leading up to Halloween we've put special healthy halloween snacks and treats in their lunches and even dinners to get them excited about the holiday in smaller doses. 

2. Dinner Dinner Dinner! 

Insisting on a very special Halloween dinner before they go out is a MUST. We make sure they're well fed with healthy and filling Halloween goodies BEFORE they leave the house. We do veggie pizza slices (our own Peas of Pie is perfect for this) and plenty of protein to keep them full all evening. It may not be a sit down affair, given the chaos of putting finishing touches on costumes and finding a pillowcase that can get smeared with chocolate, so we make sure to serve a couple easy items they can eat with one hand while we rush around if need be! That way they're not starving and eating candy as dinner! 

3. Running Just as Fast as We Can! 

In order to burn off some of that sugar energy, every time they eat a piece of candy while we're out trick-or-treating, we run as fast as we can to the next house or down the block! When we lived in apartment building, there was no elevator rule so we would run up to the next floor. This helped keep the blood sugar levels more stable and ensure that they'll sleep when we get home. 

4. Sort and Switch

When the kiddos get home, we let them have their little candy feast for a while. Usually this is less eating and more sorting their haul gleefully on the floor. While they're young enough, we take the candy and ration it out for them - one piece in their lunches for a couple of days, and then here and there during the week. But we're really considering some other options we've found, like the Switch Witch idea of encouraging them to trade their candy in for a toy. There is also a local dentist that is offering cash for candy! 

We want to know - how do you keep halloween healthy?! What traditions and tactics are instituting to develop good holiday habits? 

Spooky Witches Brew

Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat! We all know that come October 31st the something good to eat will most likely be loads and loads of sugar.  This month we're here to offer something good to eat that's spooky, delicious, loaded with protein and of course hidden veggies.  This All Hallow's Eve night, wow your little ones with black bean witches brew and Veggie Wedgie fingers as a pre-trick or treating snack.

Black Bean Witches Brew:

1 cup drained black beans

2 Tbs sour cream

1 clove garlic chopped

2 Tbs chopped cilantro

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp salt

1 Tbs olive oil

a squeeze of lime

1/4 cup water

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend for about 2 minutes or until ingredients are a hummus like consistency. Add more water (about a Tbs at a time) if the dip is too thick.  Put into serving bowl and let chill for at least 20 minutes.

Veggie Wedgie Fingers:

1 bag of your favorite veggie wedgies

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds or slivered almonds for fingernails

2 Tbs Black Bean Witches Brew

Cook Veggie Wedgies by following instructions on the bag.  Place fries on your serving dish. Use the bean dip to help keep the “fingernail” in place by dabbing a small amount of dip on the edge of each fry. Place one pumpkin seed or almond sliver over the bean dip and presto, you have spooky witch fingers!

Servings: About 4

Reinvented Caramel Sauce

Reinventing kids classics is what we do best! We take the foods kids love and make a super healthy version the entire family will enjoy.  This month we’ve decided to reinvent a sweet autumn-inspired treat; something that adult and kids alike just can’t get enough of.  It’s a sweet and sticky condiment that pairs well with apples, sundaes and pies.  This month’s Halloween inspired recipea is a nutritiously delicious reinvented caramel sauce!

We’re going to turn your every day fat and sugar infused caramel sauce into a low fat, sugar and dairy free decadent dessert!  Sounds impossible right?  Well we’ve got a secret ingredient: DATES aka: nature’s candy.  Dates are not only sweet and delicious they are packed with fiber, iron and other essential nutrients.  Who knew you could feel so good about serving your little ones a dessert as decadent as Peas of Mind’s re-invented caramel sauce?

Ingredients:

• 20 pitted dates
• ¾ cup of water
• ½ cup of canned coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• a pinch of salt to taste

Method:

In a saucepan bring dates and water to a boil. Cover and let simmer for about 10 minutes or until dates are tender.  Pour into a blender (a hi-powered blender is recommended but a food processor can be used, you may just need to simmer the dates for longer).   Blend dates, water, vanilla extract and salt then slowly add coconut milk and blend until smooth and creamy adding water if necessary.  Add more salt depending on desired saltiness of caramel.  Use as a dip for fruit and cookies, atop ice cream, dolloped on your favorite desserts or directly from the blender…it’s that good!

Makes ¾ cup of caramel