“Spooktacular” Dairy Snacks

Oct 30

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Halloween marks the beginning of candy season. It can be challenging for parents to keep sweets a modest part of their children’s diet. With dairy snacks, candy doesn’t have to be off-limits. Parents can carve out a healthier Halloween with “spooktacular” snacks!

2 cups of chocolate milk — **Fun and Nutritious Dairy Snacks**

Whether providing snacks for the class party or refueling while trick or treating, give children a nutrition boost with the official drink of Halloween: chocolate milk! Chocolate milk provides ghosts and goblins essential nutrients like protein, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A, D, and B12 with minimal added sugar. Many brands have as few as two teaspoons of added sugar, compared to 8 teaspoons or more in a candy bar. Who doesn’t love a refreshing glass of chocolate milk? Even kids who are lactose intolerant can enjoy a tall glass of chocolate milk.
Add two fun-sized chocolate bars to homemade fruit and yogurt smoothies for a flavorful and sweet kick! Sprinkle plain or peanut M&Ms or Reese’s pieces into yogurt for a delicious bone-building treat. Or mix chocolate and other candy with nuts, pretzels, and dried fruit for a fun homemade trail mix.

Store leftover candies out of sight and slip them in with a balanced lunch. Don’t hesitate to pass along the bounty. If you find that there is too much candy in your home to your liking, donate the extra to upcoming community Christmas parades or local children’s hospitals or find services that ship care packages to the military overseas.

Rebecca Turner

Using print, TV, and the radio, Rebecca Turner translates the complex world of nutrition into understandable, and achievable concepts. Purchase her books Mind Over Fork and Enjoy Good Health on Amazon. On weekdays, she hosts Good Things with Rebecca Turner on SuperTalk Mississippi. Connect with her online at RebeccaTurnerNutrition.com.