Halloween is just around the corner and I have been gathering ideas for a reduced sugar feast. Whilst it is practically impossible to dissuade children from trick or treating and therefore stockpiling the sugary treats on offer, having a halloween party at home gives you more control over the food on offer and can be just as much fun, especially for the younger ones. There are some fantastic recipes on the internet that look equally spooky and delicious. Here are my favourites:
Frankenstein kiwis
Not only are these fun to make with the children, they look great too. Find instructions here.
Babybel eyeballs
Simply a cheese, a little artwork with food colouring and a slice of olive. Finish with a tiny blob of ketchup in the middle of the olive. They look great don’t they?
Spider web eggs
Even I can make these! Place the eggs in water with 2 cups of frozen blueberries, bring to the boil, then leave to stand with a lid on for 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove the eggs, one at a time and place on a folded tea-towel. Crack the eggs on one side with a wooden spoon then place in a bowl and cover with the cooking water. Leave in the fridge overnight, then peel and you will find your spun webs.
Frozen, no added sugar, boo-nana pops
This recipe contains coconut butter instead of white chocolate (makes 4). Ensure that you freeze your banana portions on their lolly sticks, on baking paper, before covering them in the coconut butter, then return to the freezer to firm up.
1x large banana
8 currants
1/3 cup melted coconut butter.
Dr Rebecca Hartog from Hartog Dental has put together 6 simple ways you can help your children’s teeth stay healthy during Halloween and beyond……
- Eat Halloween sweets and other sugary foods with meals or shortly after mealtime. Limit consumption to one meal per day and for less than 30 minutes. Saliva production increases during meals and helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.
- Avoid hard/ boiled sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time. Besides how often you snack, the length of time sugary food is in your mouth plays a role in tooth decay. Unless it is a sugar-free product, sugar that stays in the mouth for a long period of time subject teeth to an increased risk for tooth decay.
- Drink more water. Drinking optimally fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay. If you choose bottled water, look for kinds that are fluoridated.
- Avoid drinks with added sugar, fizzy drinks or flavored waters. When teeth come in frequent contact with drinks that contain sugar, the risk of tooth decay is increased.
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won’t do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
- Visit a dentist for routine check ups and fluoride protection such as fissure sealants. Regular visits to your dentist can help prevent problems from occurring and catch those that do occur early, when they are easy to treat.
