Halloween is next week! Eek!
If you’re planning your menu & plans out this weekend, here’s a recap of my segment with Fox 8 along with the recipes and tips! More tricks & recs are here than on air because there’s only so much you can talk about in 3 minutes =)
Nutritious snack: homemade popcorn
Heat a large skillet to medium heat. Add 1-2 tablespoons oil of choice, I used avocado oil since it can take higher heats and can help to prevent burning – speaking from experience here…
Add one popcorn kernel to the heated oil. When it pops, the oil is ready. Add 1/4-1/2 cup kernels {depending on how much oil used above and how much you want to make}. Cover and agitate the skillet while the kernels are heating and popping.
Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice for that fall festive flavor!
- Crunchy, snack-like option that’s a good fiber source (whole grain)
- you control the ingredients when making it at home
- air popped or type & amount of oil used, amount of salt- if any
- Allergy friendly {gluten free, nut free,…}
Homemade dinner: pot roast
- Fill up and satisfy with a nutritious dinner (lean protein, fiber + veggie-rich) before heading out
- Lower saturated fat {better for cardiovascular health} protein- eye of round
- Veggie loaded – carrots, tomato paste, onions, garlic
- Salt mindful – you control how much, again if any, is used
- can be made ahead of time (i.e. Sunday dinner & planned for leftovers for Halloween night)
- can be done all in the slow cooker if desired
- pair with stone ground (whole grain) grits
- add in cauliflower for those with selective taste buds {i.e. picky kids} – same color, yet flavor from grits can mask the veggie flavor
- family friendly {easy, tastes good, but also good for you} + gluten free
- can be made vegetarian by replacing the meat with black beans + lentils and using vegetable bases + stocks
Tips + Tricks for Trick or Treats
mix of tricks AND treats {including more-nutritious options to help add variety + options}
- ** bubbles, stickers, stamps, snap bracelets, glow sticks, yoyos, etc… {check party-favor sections} **
- individually wrapped {** are allergy friendly **}
- **popcorn single serve bags**
- ** Simply Balanced all fruit ‘snacks’ – twists, bars, bites**
- bars
- Rx bar kids + larabars – no added sugars
- KIND kids- lower sugar – teaspoon =5 grams added sugar
- Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars – also has brownie version- whole grains
For more tips & tricks, my article this month in Health and Fitness magazine {link included} has some strategies about what to do after Halloween with all the candy.
Happy Trick or Treating!
xo,
Becca
twistednutritionblog.com 