I LOVE Halloween. It is one of my favourite ‘holidays’ of the year. I have some wonderful memories from when I was a child as my sister and I would put my Mam’s green eyeshadow (it was the 80’s!) on our faces, a black bin liner on as a dress and then top it off with a pointy hat to become witches. Luckily, Halloween fancy dress costumes have come a long way since then!
As fun as Halloween can be, it’s not exactly the healthiest of occasions. I can remember eating so many sweets I thought I was going to throw up! Now of course, Halloween parties aren’t just for the kids and us adults can use it as an excuse for a party too! Whether your Halloween party is for kids, adults or a mix of both, I think there is a balance to be had on the healthy front. Let’s face it, how boring would it be with no sweets at all? So instead of being all or nothing, I would try and simply add in some of the naturally healthy activities and foods that come with the occasion…
Apple Bobbing
Apparently apple bobbing originated in the British Isles as a game linked to fortune telling where you would grab the apple with your mouth take off some peel and then pass it around your head before throwing it over your shoulder where it should land in the shape of the letter of your true loves first name. Whether you believe in divination or not, apple bobbing is a great game to play at Halloween – just make sure the kids eat their apples before going crazy with the sweets!
Pumpkin in EVERYTHING
If you’ve been reading this blog over the last few months you’ll know I love my pumpkin and squash! Synonymous with Halloween, pumpkin is a perfect food theme and is healthy to boot! Try making some pumpkin soup, using pumpkin in a chilli or curry, in cookies or cakes for sweet treats etc. A pumpkin spice hot chocolate would be a great treat for kids and adults to round off the party.
Green ‘monster’ smoothies and ‘vampire’ smoothies
Looking for costume inspiration? I think us Brits are slowly following the lead of the guys in the US by going for a wider range of costumes alongside the traditional witch / ghost / zombie. For example you can get glam rock fancy dress costumes if you want to channel the 1970’s look, colourful wigs and animal costumes – just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what you can go for! I love dressing up, so much so that I had a fancy dress party for my 30th birthday last year. Any excuse right?
Are you having a Halloween party this year? What would be your costume of choice? Any other ideas for making Halloween slightly more healthy for kids and adults?
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I love Halloween! I always get a pumpkin to carve but these days I get a second one for eating – such a shame that so many people have probably never eaten pumpkin despite carving one for Halloween every year. x
I absolutely agree! So many people wouldn’t have tried it, such a waste!
This post feels so appropriate – yesterday I FINALLY managed to get my first trip to Wholefoods and found some tinned pumpkin! So today is definitely a day for making a pumpkin pie :) have a wonderful weekend xxx
Yey! Glad you found that, it’s great stuff. Hope the pumpkin pie turned out well!
Hahaha, apple bopping reminds me of the games my mom made us to play on birthday parties… guess that might be a reason why I stopped having birthday parties :) . Also I am a bit afraid to have my head dropped under water, so it might not be totally the games fault. Still, I am a total Halloween fan and I think it’s great to not make the holiday about candies, and have healthy treats instead. By the way: I healthify my Halloween this year by going on a fun Halloween 5K with a few of my girls. Hope the weather plays along.
Oh that sounds like so much fun! I always make a halloween workout playlist for going to the gym and it when I was running too :-)
I’m hosting a Halloween party for my children this year (7 and 3 year olds…help me!!) there will be apple bobbing, but also doughnuts on string, plus lots of other sweet treats I’m sure! I love the idea of green & red smoothies, definitely going to do that instead of my planned “Witches’ punch”! :)
I’ve never heard of the doughnuts on a string game!
I don’t usually do much for Halloween any more, though I went to a few parties as a kid. I remember hating the apple bobbing and loving the doughnuts on a string game!
I’m more into Bonfire night :)
I love bonfire night as well although they have stopped the big show they used to have on where we live which is a shame! I like making broth and hot chocolate :-)
I am not really into Halloween- prefer bonfire night but I love pumpkin :) When I was little one friend had peeled grapes as witches eyes!
Haha peeled grapes is such a good idea! I do love bonfire night as well :-)
Now i’m older i don’t tend to do anything for Halloween. Costumes in the 80s really did just consist of a bin liner and a witches hat. And my poor dad trying to carve out a turnip before the days of pumpkins! Then we went out in our bin liner with a naked flame in the turnip – not very safe! But it was always fun.
Oh I know, we used a turnip as well, kids these days don’t know what there were missing eh ;-)
I used to love apple bobbing (surprised?) but it’s so messy!
We’re not doing anything for Halloween which I don’t mind. I used to love it at uni but then it’s just another excuse to dress up and go out hehe. It’ll probably just pass us by now. Except for the excessive amounts of pumpkin we’ll have hehe.