Thrive – October 2018 Issue

Spooky Treats

It’s that time of year again where the holiday season is here; the last few months of the year are full of activities, family gatherings, parties, and food – especially sweets – seem to be the center of every get-together.

Some children are especially sensitive to dyes, sugar and artificial ingredients (we should learn a lesson from these kids and adjust our diets, eliminating these things is the healthier way to go!). It can definitely feel isolating to be left out of more fun treats when you have food sensitivities, but there are alternatives that you can try that are healthier options and just as fun and festive on Halloween to eat!

Try these Bite-Sized Eyeballs from Women’s Day Magazine Online. Don’t worry, they may look creepy, but they are just delicious cheesy pastry puffs decorated to look like eyeballs, and they only have a few ingredients: butter, flour, eggs, and cheese. You can modify or substitute ingredients if there are allergens present in ingredients. Then, make each pair come alive for Halloween with slices of cucumber and olive, and squiggles of tasty Sriracha or ketchup.

Get Full Recipe Here

For a ghostly dessert, try these yummy mummy banana popsicles from Well Plated. They are a great choice for a cute Halloween-themed dessert or frozen snack and they are simple enough to pass for a fun craft idea, too! The recipe is modified from dipping the bananas in white chocolate to Greek yogurt for a healthier option. This calls for drizzling the popsicles with peanut butter for that “mummy” effect, but if your kiddo has a peanut allergy, you can drizzle with dark chocolate, or another nut butter of your choice. This is such a cool idea that we thought we’d share – it would be a great snack to bring for that class Halloween party as well!

Get Full Recipe Here

If you are looking for some Halloween treats that are a good substitute and a healthier alternative that you don’t have to prepare, try some of the following:

Theo Chocolate Salted Almond Butter Cups in Dark Chocolate 
This is a relatively healthy nut butter cup and a better alternative to a Reece’s cup because you can recognize and pronounce all the ingredients it’s made from. It’s Organic, soy free and palm free, and it’s made with almond butter – you can get it on Amazon.

Seitenbacher Happy Fruits in Passionfruit 
These gummies infused with passionfruit are gluten-free, 100% vegan, contain no gelatin or refined sugar, and they are made with real fruit juice, and also a good source of fiber – definitely a healthier option but taste just as good! You can find them on Amazon.

UNREAL Dark Chocolate Crispy Quinoa Gems
Crispy quinoa covered in smooth dark chocolate! These miniature “gems” get their bright colors from natural ingredients like beets, turmeric, hibiscus, and cabbage – no artificial coloring here. They are also a good source of fiber. Pick them up on Amazon.

If you have any other fun Halloween treats you’d like to share, tag us on social media! We’d love to hear your ideas. And if you try any of the recipes above, post them and let us know how they turned out.

The Teal Pumpkin Project

Don’t forget about the Teal Pumpkin Project this year on Halloween! This is especially important if your child has severe food allergies. Putting a teal pumpkin on your doorstep means you have non-food treats available, such as glow sticks or small toys. This simple act promotes inclusion for trick-or-treaters with food allergies or other conditions.

Here is how you can get involved:

• Provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters .
• Place a teal pumpkin in front of your home to indicate that you have non-food treats available.
• Add your home to the Teal Pumpkin Project Map.
• Spread the word! Share the Teal Pumpkin Project with your friends and family.

​Here are some ideas for non-food treats you can provide this year:

• Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces
• Pencils, pens, crayons, or markers
• Bubbles, coins, playing cards
• Spider rings or vampire teeth
• Erasers, stickers, stencils, mini notepads, or bookmarks
• Whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers
• Finger puppets, mini slinkies, bouncy balls, or other small toys

Here are some free resources like signs, posters and activities from FoodAllergy.org to help you make the most of this year’s Teal Pumpkin Project.
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Stay Connected   It takes a village! Find community with local parents, support groups, Facebook communities, or other local organizations. Email us, or join us online: Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram – we’d love for you to connect with us!