Celebrate Halloween this year with a refreshing perspective and a more nutritious bag of treats. Halloween can mean more than just costumes and candy; it gives us the opportunity to bring awareness to our deeper connection to the Earth, as we recognize the cycle of life and death. This Halloween, tune in to what’s happening to the Earth. Recognize how the harvest season resonates with your own desire to gather the fruits of your hard work.
Many may celebrate Halloween by indulging in candy. That doesn’t have to be how you define your celebration though. It’s a beautiful thing to celebrate a holiday with food, but it’s always wise to question the quality of your treats and their nutrition and use your wisdom to satisfy your sweet tooth without compromising your health.
Here is your guide to celebrating Halloween in a way that will make your inner health warrior proud:
Stay away from major brand candies.
GMOs, artificial ingredients, partially hydrogenated oils… No thank you! Instead check out your local natural food grocery store for healthier alternatives. Opt for delicious, non-GMO, natural candies without all the terrible ingredients.
Decide what is really a special treat for you and don’t settle for anything less.
Don’t eat candy just because the holiday makes it so easily available and abundant. Take time to get a treat that will wow you and isn’t loaded with bad ingredients, maybe even something packed with nutrition.
Add a fun tradition to your Halloween.
Get creative by doing something that is unique to you and your family. Gather the pumpkin seeds, full of nutrition, after carving your pumpkins and roast them with fine sea salt, or create a maze of lanterns in your yard—the elements of light and dark can create a great space for self-reflection. You can also create ornaments out of seasonal fruits such as pomegranates or persimmons and string them from a tree outside. You are the crafter of your holiday tradition, so let it mean something special to you.
Fit in a pre- or post-holiday cleanse to support your health.
Sugar and excess sweets can deplete the body’s reserve of vitamins and minerals, so make sure you are replenishing them after eating sweets. Up your vegetable intake as a way to defend your health and balanced nutrition.
Help reduce food waste by repurposing your jack-o-lantern.
Brighten your fall garden with pumpkin planters. If you’re starting with an un-carved pumpkin, carve out all the guts and seeds and replace with soil and then add a plant. The pumpkin will eventually decompose, and in turn feed the soil of your garden.
Make a different kind of Halloween mask.
Puree the flesh of your jack-o-lantern, then mix in a little coconut sugar (hello exfoliation!) and apply as a facial mask. Pumpkins are rich in skin-nourishing zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E.
Tap into the power of pumpkin!
Pumpkin is a winter squash that’s packed with fiber and antioxidants. (Read more about pumpkin here.) Try this nourishing seasonal smoothie.
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
1 frozen banana
1 cup almond milk
1 cup grated fresh pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon alspice
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
stevia or raw honey to taste
Combine all ingredients in a blender and process til creamy.
