Halloween is a holiday filled with creative costumes, spooky decorations and lots of candy. And while kids may want to dive in on their sugar-filled bounty, it can be hard for parents to say no and encourage a healthier option. Below is a preview from AbilityPath.org’s upcoming report “Finding Balance: Obesity and Children with Special Needs,” with tips and tricks to help your child eat and live healthier!

Healthy Snacks for Trick-or-Treating
Organize a group of parents in your neighborhood to act as “Healthy Homes” and serve healthy snack-packs to trick-or-treaters! Your kids will have healthy options at their fingertips on Halloween. Plus, you’ll know they’re safe accepting fresh foods from friends.

• Apples and peanut butter
• Cut up vegetables and a low fat dip
• Air popped popcorn
• A light or reduced fat string cheese with fresh berries
• Apples or celery with peanut butter or soy butter

Healthy Snacks for your Halloween Party
Ready to shop for your Halloween Party? Bypass those mini chocolate bars and other sweets in favor of these healthy snack options!

• Serve snacks that contain at least two food groups, like protein and carbohydrates
• Keep a container in fridge with healthy snack choices like cut up veggies
• Keep box on counter with other healthy snacks like whole wheat crackers and nuts

And remember to use trick-or-treating as a great excuse to go out and exercise! Strolling around your neighborhood to look at decorations is a great way to stay active and have fun! Make a game out of it—count how many pumpkins you see while you are out or create a scavenger hunt for Halloween items that your child and the neighborhood kids can enjoy on the weekend leading up to Halloween!

Learn more about combating obesity among special needs children with the November 2nd release of AbilityPath.org’s “Finding Balance: Obesity and Children with Special Needs”. “Finding Balance” is a landmark report highlighting the epidemic of obesity in the special needs community and outlining innovative solutions for families, caregivers and professionals. As the diagnoses of disabilities like autism rises, the obesity risk will also continue to grow to dangerous levels.

Want the report emailed to you? Become a member of AbilityPath before Nov. 1 and you will receive a copy of the report!