5 Sugar-free Halloween Treats for Kids

Most parents try to curb their kids’ sugar intake only to have their efforts wasted during Halloween. The season of trick-or-treat is coming, so what should parents do? Steer away from added sugar such as high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar and palm sugar and emphasize fruits and milk that contain natural sugar.

Here is a list of healthy, delicious and sugar-free treats that you can make for your children this Halloween night.

Watermelon Brain

Ingredient:

Medium-sized watermelon

Instruction:

1. Wash and peel watermelon using a fruit peeler.

2. Using a thin, sharp knife, cut a small size at the bottom so it can sit stable.

3. Make a straight cut at the middle and make thin carvings similar to the image.

Sugar-free Pumpkin Cookies

Recipe adapted from https://wholenewmom.com/recipes/pumpkin-recipes-pumpkin-cookies-vegan-cookies-gluten-free-cookies/

Ingredients:

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup pumpkin, unsweetened

• 1/2 cup coconut oil

• 1/4 cup xylitol

• 1 Tbsp orange extract

• 1 Tbsp water

Dry Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup gluten-free flour (You can use almond flour or oat flour)

• 3-4 scoops stevia extract (each scoop is 1/32 tsp)

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375. Combine all wet ingredients in a bowl.

2. Add flour, baking soda and the seasonings until thoroughly combined.

3. Scoop the cookie dough using a 2-tbsp. muffin scoop.

4. Place the cookie dough on a baking sheet and back for 8 to 10 minutes or until it turns slightly brown.

Apple Pops

Recipe adapted from https://www.feastingonfruit.com/4-ingredient-caramel-apples-sugar-free-raw-vegan/

Makes 3

• 3 Granny Smith apples

• 1/2 cup dried white mulberries

• 3 sticks

• 1 1/2 cup pitted medjool dates

• 1 cup water

1. Process the mulberries until it is broken into crumbly textures.

2. To make the caramel, blend the dates with water until it turns smooth.

3. Using the stick inserted on the apples, dip the apples into the caramel mixture and roll them in the mulberries.

4. Immediately refrigerate to firm caramel.

Fruity Witches Brew Pudding

Recipe from https://www.healthfulpursuit.com/2012/10/witches-brew-breakfast-pudding/

Ingredient

• 1 tbsp ground pepita seeds

• 1 tsp honey

• ½ cup yogurt

• 1 over-ripe banana

• Some fresh spinach

• 2 tbsp ground flax seed

• 2 tablespoon coconut oil

• Lemon juice (from one lemon)

• some green grapes

Instructions

1. Combine ground flax and pepita seeds and set aside.

2. Place the serving glasses and dab some honey on the edges of the glasses.

3. Flip the glasses over into the ground pepita and flax.

4. Combine the rest of the ingredients except for grapes into the food processor until smooth.

5. Pour the blended mixture into the serving glasses and place the grapes.

6. Enjoy.

Skinny Pumpkin Spice Latte

Recipe adapted from https://www.bakingbeauty.net/sugar-free-pumpkin-spice-latte-recipe/

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk

• 2 tbsp canned pumpkin

• 3 to 4 packets Stevia

• ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice

• 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract

• ½ cup strongly brewed coffee, hot

• Whipped Cream

• cinnamon sticks (if desired)

Instructions

1. Heat milk, pumpkin, and stevia over medium heat in a small sauce pan. Do NOT boil. Remove from heat.

2. Stir in pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and brewed coffee.

3. Divide into 2 mugs.

4. Sprinkle pumpkin pie spice and a cinnamon stick on top if desired.
   
   

How Can I Keep Proper Dental Care on Halloween?

Halloween is just around the corner, and for most kids, it means a bucket of free treats and sweets. It’s no surprise that Halloween present parents with various health and safety challenges, most especially with their kids’ dental health. Though it’s fine to eat candies on Halloween, it is best to have a plan.

To help your family keep those pearls healthy and strong on Halloween, here are some tips for you.

Choose wisely

Not all candies and sweets are the same, some are far worse than other when it comes to your teeth and gums’ health. If you are going to indulge this coming Halloween, eliminate the treats that are considered to be worst such as sticky treats like taffy and caramels, and hard candies as they tend to linger on your teeth spaces causing more damage.

Set Limits

This is very important. Do not let your child eat treats subconsciously while playing with friends or watching TV. Instead, give only on particular times such as after having a meal as the saliva produced during your meal will help remove the candy bits and sugar, hence lowering the risk of cavities. Another way is to have your child choose only a few of their favorites from the treat bag and allow them to eat sweet after a meal for just a week after Halloween, and then, donate the rest. Many dentists in the US joint the Halloween Buyback Program where candies are collected and sent to people in the military. When you donate your candy treats, your pediatric dentist might give you a new toothbrush in exchange.

Don’t Forget to Brush

But don’t hurry to brush your teeth after eating a few treats. Some candies are acidic and can soften the enamel, so brushing it right after eating can damage your teeth, risking damaging your enamel while still sensitive. Wait a bit before brushing your teeth. Instead of brushing, better drink water to rinse the sugar sticking on your eat and wait for at least 30 minutes before brushing.

Be Careful in Doing the Costumes

It isn’t just the treats that could damage your little ones teeth during Halloween. Be particularly careful with what you place on their teeth when it comes to costuming. When decorating your child’s teeth, use only those made for use in their mouth. Think more than twice when using prosthetics or fake fangs on your child. Though they may not cause any tooth cavities, there have been many cases of these products containing high levels of toxic chemicals such as lead. Talk to your pediatric dentist if you need any Halloween tips that concerns prosthetics or any kind of makeup on your teeth.