Hosting a healthy Halloween

(NC)-Hosting a Halloween party doesn’t have to be all about the candy. Be a super-mom by hosting a healthier kid’s party that includes the classic Halloween décor but offers candy-free goodie bags and fun games designed to get kids physically active. This spooky feast will keep kids eating a balanced diet while still having a horrifically fun time.

A Creepy Feast

. Bat Wings: Bake frozen chicken wings and serve with barbecue sauce (blood!) for dipping.
. Witches Cauldron Dip (recipe available at www.homebasics.ca)
. Ghostly Potato Cakes (recipe available at www.homebasics.ca)
. Frozen Eyeballs: Scoop vanilla frozen yogurt onto cookie sheets and refreeze. Garnish with a maraschino cherry iris and a raisin for a pupil. Serve two eyeballs per child.

Horror-ific Fun

. Monster Mash Off: Have a dance competition where kids create their own dances based on classic Halloween characters like the “Slime Swing” and “Footloose Frankenstein”.
. Spiderweb Team Challenge: (For school-aged kids.) Stand in a circle with a group of four or more people. Grab hands with two people who are not beside you. Untangle, as a group, moving under and over limbs, back into one open circle, without letting go of hands.
. Haunted Obstacle course: Plan a spooky obstacle course indoors or out. For example; create a “bat cave” out of old sheets hung over chairs, a cotton batting-lined hula hoop “spiderweb”, or a pile of pillows for “sleeping ghosts”.

Candy-Free Loot Bag Suggestions

. Dollar store treasures that could include Halloween stickers, spider rings, slime toys and glow sticks.
. Trick-or-treating survival kit, which includes a small flashlight, toothbrush, toothpaste and floss.
. Make-your-own spider pet kit that includes a black balloon, pipe cleaners, garbage bags cut into legs and instructions for assembly.

Dozens more ideas for a safe and fun Halloween can be found online at www.homebasics.ca.
Credit: www.newscanada.com