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Houston's premier web resource for moms!
Bridget Leigh Pugh is a wife, Stay-at-Home
Mother of two children, and dual business owner
in Houston, Texas specializing in Organic
cuisine. Her work in Fair Trade and support of
local farmers is known throughout the Southern
United States. Check out http://www.fudgette.com
Mother of two children, and dual business owner
in Houston, Texas specializing in Organic
cuisine. Her work in Fair Trade and support of
local farmers is known throughout the Southern
United States. Check out http://www.fudgette.com
Want to cook healthy for your family but you're
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.
Trick or Treat
Tips on Having a Healthy Halloween
For many families, the holiday season begins on Halloween night, a favorite
for many kiddos. The fun includes costumes, parties, a late night out, and
candy! A TON of candy, to be exact. Do you tend to find yourself
overwhelmed by the amount of unhealthy snacks and confections your kids
eat during this holiday and the days after? This article is a rescue for your
and other families that end up with way too much candy for way too long! By
being creative at school functions, family parties, on Halloween night, and at
home on the days after Halloween, you can get the sugar situation under
control and have more fun!
Cool School Treats: Kids want to be proud of the treats they bring to school
functions and parties, and you and your children’s teachers want the
children to stay as healthy as possible. There is a way to bring super-cool
snacks that please all involved- it just takes some creativity! By substituting
candy, cupcakes, and cookies with cleverly packaged substitutes, kids can
have a healthier school party. Cellophane baggies in fun and spooky prints
can be a great holder for snack mixes. Snack mix that includes fat free
pretzels, nuts for protein, and granola clusters can be enhanced with a few
M&Ms and candy corn for color. Finish off these cute baggies with orange
and black curling ribbon and let the kids enjoy a healthy, delicious snack.
If you want to go even healthier for your kids’ school functions, string cheese
and large pretzel rods are great tied together in a bundle with a festive
ribbon. Baby carrots in individually wrapped packs and 1-ounce condiment
cups of Ranch dressing or dip (find these at Party City in the catering isle)
are convenient and full of nutrients.
Fun Family Parties: Part of the fun during Halloween is all the great parties
that families can join in- either on Halloween night or before. However, party
food is notoriously unhealthy, and Halloween parties usually end up serving
lots of candy and sugary sweets. One of the best ways to keep kids from
overeating unhealthy foods at parties is to feed them a healthy meal before
the event. Also, by bringing a healthy dish to share, all kids have an
opportunity to enjoy a healthy treat. Finger sandwiches are perfect for family
parties. Using whole grain bread, low-fat ham or turkey, and 2% cheese,
you can easily create a great party food to take along. Make these
sandwiches festive by using Halloween-shaped cookie cutters (try a ghost
shape with two black olive slices for the eyes!). So simple!
If the Halloween party is a dessert party, try baking mini cupcakes with some
clever twists to bump up the nutritional value. Instead of icing, use a can of
whipped cream to pipe a dollop on each one. Top with a slice of strawberry
and store in the fridge until ready to eat. Another great healthy Halloween
desert is a parfait- in disposable champagne flutes; layer vanilla pudding (try
tinting it with orange food coloring!), whipped cream, favorite fruits, and a few
chocolate chips. Don’t forget the spoons if bringing these to a party!
Halloween Night: Trick-or-treating is every kid’s favorite part of Halloween.
Moms know how quickly kids can overload on candy, so this year, try to give
out fun, healthy alternatives to sugary sweets. Because many parents are
leery of homemade treats during Halloween, try healthy options that can be
bought pre-packaged. Popcorn balls are a hands-down winner for kids, and
usually have fewer calories than most candy. Buy them in a big box at many
supercenters around Halloween for less money than bags of candy!
Oriental Trading Company also carries bulk-sized boxes of assorted holiday
toys for a small price tag, and many kids like getting Halloween loot that they
can play with.
Let’s face it, organic candy is the healthiest- technically speaking- because
of its lack of fillers, wax, and pesticides, but it isn’t necessarily economical if
families are expecting tons of trick-or-treaters. So, when organic candy isn’t
an option, popcorn balls and treats are awesome substitutes.
After Halloween: The nightmare usually begins the days after Halloween,
when you realize you are now living with 10 pounds of candy! Rationing the
candy is a must-do for the sanity of parents and the health of the kids. Keep
bags of candy on the top shelf of the pantry, out of reach of the kids. Work
out a system everyone can feel comfortable with: one piece of candy with a
glass of milk after school, or two pieces of candy after dinner. Parents are
always in control of what goes in their child’s bodies, and it is important to
take that responsibility seriously. Some households throw away candy that
isn’t the kids’ favorites, or even the candy that Mom and Dad will be tempted
to eat. Because kids should eat as little sugar as possible, keep candy
eating in check, but understand that kiddos are excited by their loot and want
to enjoy it! When offering their candy reward over the next few days after
Halloween, keep it fun, positive, and limited.
There are lots of ways to have a healthy Halloween, while still having fun and
being festive. Remember that kids want to fit in at school, and by making
festive options with a healthy twist, you can helps you children feel proud of
their Halloween treat to share with the class. Tie orange and black ribbon
on everything, add Halloween stickers, and attach spooky gift tags with fun
Halloween phrases for even more of a creepy feel!
During the busy Halloween party season, offer to bring a healthy dish to
share, whether it is for a traditional party or a dessert party. And when giving
out candy on Halloween night, it is important to get creative about finding pre-
packaged treats and loot that is a healthier alternative- parents will
appreciate it! Finally, by being diligent about giving the kids a reasonable
amount of candy each day and throwing away candy that is either too
tempting for the parents or not loved by the children, you can stay in control of
the sugar flow after Halloween is over. But above all, remember to have fun
this Halloween and look forward to a healthy holiday season!
Tips on Having a Healthy Halloween
For many families, the holiday season begins on Halloween night, a favorite
for many kiddos. The fun includes costumes, parties, a late night out, and
candy! A TON of candy, to be exact. Do you tend to find yourself
overwhelmed by the amount of unhealthy snacks and confections your kids
eat during this holiday and the days after? This article is a rescue for your
and other families that end up with way too much candy for way too long! By
being creative at school functions, family parties, on Halloween night, and at
home on the days after Halloween, you can get the sugar situation under
control and have more fun!
Cool School Treats: Kids want to be proud of the treats they bring to school
functions and parties, and you and your children’s teachers want the
children to stay as healthy as possible. There is a way to bring super-cool
snacks that please all involved- it just takes some creativity! By substituting
candy, cupcakes, and cookies with cleverly packaged substitutes, kids can
have a healthier school party. Cellophane baggies in fun and spooky prints
can be a great holder for snack mixes. Snack mix that includes fat free
pretzels, nuts for protein, and granola clusters can be enhanced with a few
M&Ms and candy corn for color. Finish off these cute baggies with orange
and black curling ribbon and let the kids enjoy a healthy, delicious snack.
If you want to go even healthier for your kids’ school functions, string cheese
and large pretzel rods are great tied together in a bundle with a festive
ribbon. Baby carrots in individually wrapped packs and 1-ounce condiment
cups of Ranch dressing or dip (find these at Party City in the catering isle)
are convenient and full of nutrients.
Fun Family Parties: Part of the fun during Halloween is all the great parties
that families can join in- either on Halloween night or before. However, party
food is notoriously unhealthy, and Halloween parties usually end up serving
lots of candy and sugary sweets. One of the best ways to keep kids from
overeating unhealthy foods at parties is to feed them a healthy meal before
the event. Also, by bringing a healthy dish to share, all kids have an
opportunity to enjoy a healthy treat. Finger sandwiches are perfect for family
parties. Using whole grain bread, low-fat ham or turkey, and 2% cheese,
you can easily create a great party food to take along. Make these
sandwiches festive by using Halloween-shaped cookie cutters (try a ghost
shape with two black olive slices for the eyes!). So simple!
If the Halloween party is a dessert party, try baking mini cupcakes with some
clever twists to bump up the nutritional value. Instead of icing, use a can of
whipped cream to pipe a dollop on each one. Top with a slice of strawberry
and store in the fridge until ready to eat. Another great healthy Halloween
desert is a parfait- in disposable champagne flutes; layer vanilla pudding (try
tinting it with orange food coloring!), whipped cream, favorite fruits, and a few
chocolate chips. Don’t forget the spoons if bringing these to a party!
Halloween Night: Trick-or-treating is every kid’s favorite part of Halloween.
Moms know how quickly kids can overload on candy, so this year, try to give
out fun, healthy alternatives to sugary sweets. Because many parents are
leery of homemade treats during Halloween, try healthy options that can be
bought pre-packaged. Popcorn balls are a hands-down winner for kids, and
usually have fewer calories than most candy. Buy them in a big box at many
supercenters around Halloween for less money than bags of candy!
Oriental Trading Company also carries bulk-sized boxes of assorted holiday
toys for a small price tag, and many kids like getting Halloween loot that they
can play with.
Let’s face it, organic candy is the healthiest- technically speaking- because
of its lack of fillers, wax, and pesticides, but it isn’t necessarily economical if
families are expecting tons of trick-or-treaters. So, when organic candy isn’t
an option, popcorn balls and treats are awesome substitutes.
After Halloween: The nightmare usually begins the days after Halloween,
when you realize you are now living with 10 pounds of candy! Rationing the
candy is a must-do for the sanity of parents and the health of the kids. Keep
bags of candy on the top shelf of the pantry, out of reach of the kids. Work
out a system everyone can feel comfortable with: one piece of candy with a
glass of milk after school, or two pieces of candy after dinner. Parents are
always in control of what goes in their child’s bodies, and it is important to
take that responsibility seriously. Some households throw away candy that
isn’t the kids’ favorites, or even the candy that Mom and Dad will be tempted
to eat. Because kids should eat as little sugar as possible, keep candy
eating in check, but understand that kiddos are excited by their loot and want
to enjoy it! When offering their candy reward over the next few days after
Halloween, keep it fun, positive, and limited.
There are lots of ways to have a healthy Halloween, while still having fun and
being festive. Remember that kids want to fit in at school, and by making
festive options with a healthy twist, you can helps you children feel proud of
their Halloween treat to share with the class. Tie orange and black ribbon
on everything, add Halloween stickers, and attach spooky gift tags with fun
Halloween phrases for even more of a creepy feel!
During the busy Halloween party season, offer to bring a healthy dish to
share, whether it is for a traditional party or a dessert party. And when giving
out candy on Halloween night, it is important to get creative about finding pre-
packaged treats and loot that is a healthier alternative- parents will
appreciate it! Finally, by being diligent about giving the kids a reasonable
amount of candy each day and throwing away candy that is either too
tempting for the parents or not loved by the children, you can stay in control of
the sugar flow after Halloween is over. But above all, remember to have fun
this Halloween and look forward to a healthy holiday season!
Larger-Than-Life Nachos
For kiddos with wheat, peanut, egg, or milk allergies, this jumbo
nacho dish is great (it’s pretty darn yummy even for us without
allergies!). It truly is a larger-than-life dish that kids will definitely
be interested in. Switch up the toppings to accommodate
particular tastes, and enjoy a huge platter of these during the
upcoming football season.
On the largest platter that fits in the microwave, spread tostadas.
Top with black beans, turkey, and shreds. Microwave for 45
seconds to 1 minute, or until hot and shreds melt. Sprinkle
lettuce, tomato, and desired toppings and enjoy warm.
* For a kid-sized lunch, simply heat 1-2 tostadas with desired
toppings for 30 seconds in the microwave. What a simple, quick
dish that is a great change from sandwiches for lunch!
For kiddos with wheat, peanut, egg, or milk allergies, this jumbo
nacho dish is great (it’s pretty darn yummy even for us without
allergies!). It truly is a larger-than-life dish that kids will definitely
be interested in. Switch up the toppings to accommodate
particular tastes, and enjoy a huge platter of these during the
upcoming football season.
- 10 corn tostadas
- 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
- ½ pound of ground turkey, browned and drained
- 1 8 oz. package cheddar flavor soy cheese shreds (look in
the produce section- by the tofu) - 1 cup of shredded lettuce
- 1 tomato, diced
- Black olives and pickled jalapeños, if desired
- Salsa and guacamole (and sour cream if no milk allergy)
On the largest platter that fits in the microwave, spread tostadas.
Top with black beans, turkey, and shreds. Microwave for 45
seconds to 1 minute, or until hot and shreds melt. Sprinkle
lettuce, tomato, and desired toppings and enjoy warm.
* For a kid-sized lunch, simply heat 1-2 tostadas with desired
toppings for 30 seconds in the microwave. What a simple, quick
dish that is a great change from sandwiches for lunch!