Halloween – Less Meat More Veg https://lessmeatmoreveg.com Source For Healthy Lifestyle Tips, News and More! Sun, 31 Oct 2021 11:02:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 Get Into The Spooky Spirit With These 7 Spells & Rituals For Halloween https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/get-into-the-spooky-spirit-with-these-7-spells-rituals-for-halloween/ https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/get-into-the-spooky-spirit-with-these-7-spells-rituals-for-halloween/#respond Sun, 31 Oct 2021 11:02:08 +0000 https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/get-into-the-spooky-spirit-with-these-7-spells-rituals-for-halloween/
From tarot spreads to candle meditations, this is a great day to give a new ritual a whirl.
This article was originally published by mindbodygreen.com. Read the original article here.

]]> https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/get-into-the-spooky-spirit-with-these-7-spells-rituals-for-halloween/feed/ 0 How A Professional Intuitive Preps Her Home For Halloween https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/how-a-professional-intuitive-preps-her-home-for-halloween/ https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/how-a-professional-intuitive-preps-her-home-for-halloween/#respond Fri, 29 Oct 2021 16:58:23 +0000 https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/how-a-professional-intuitive-preps-her-home-for-halloween/

This time of year has long been considered sacred if you look to ancient Celtic, Scottish, Irish, and Druidic traditions. It’s a time to celebrate the harvest, honor our ancestors, and scare away demons when the veil between worlds is said to be the thinnest. It also happens to fall during Scorpio season, a time that relates to death and rebirth. 

Many of the Halloween traditions we see today actually have historical origins, and while they’ve been largely commercialized, the essence is still the same. Here are five ways to embrace the underlying spirit of Samhain or Halloween in your home this year:

This article was originally published by mindbodygreen.com. Read the original article here.

]]> https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/how-a-professional-intuitive-preps-her-home-for-halloween/feed/ 0 Our 12 Favorite Better-For-You Candy Options, For The Best Halloween Yet https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/our-12-favorite-better-for-you-candy-options-for-the-best-halloween-yet/ https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/our-12-favorite-better-for-you-candy-options-for-the-best-halloween-yet/#respond Fri, 29 Oct 2021 02:04:09 +0000 https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/our-12-favorite-better-for-you-candy-options-for-the-best-halloween-yet/

Lily’s Sweets Gummy Bears

Though they’re more known for chocolate, sweets brand Lily’s has broken into gummies this year. While currently only available in some stores, these are a perfect healthier take on gummy bears, as they don’t contain added sugars—they’re even keto-friendly. Again, we don’t love the palm oil, but these are still a healthier option than the classic candy. Their fruity flavors include strawberry, raspberry, orange, and lemon.

Gummy Bears, Lily’s ($2.78)

This article was originally published by mindbodygreen.com. Read the original article here.

]]> https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/our-12-favorite-better-for-you-candy-options-for-the-best-halloween-yet/feed/ 0 Halloween Costumes for Babies, 20 Cute Ideas – Say Yes https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/halloween-costumes-for-babies-20-cute-ideas-say-yes/ https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/halloween-costumes-for-babies-20-cute-ideas-say-yes/#respond Tue, 26 Oct 2021 08:00:51 +0000 https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/halloween-costumes-for-babies-20-cute-ideas-say-yes/

Thinking about Halloween costumes yet? We picked 20 of our favorite (mostly DIY) Halloween costumes for babies today. Hurry and dress them in the cutest possible costume, before they start picking out costumes themselves…

 

Also find 16 easy couples costumes, and all our costume ideas over the last few years right here

This article was originally published by sayyes.com. Read the original article here.

]]> https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/halloween-costumes-for-babies-20-cute-ideas-say-yes/feed/ 0 Make Your Own Animal Nose, Ears, Tail for Halloween – Say Yes https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/make-your-own-animal-nose-ears-tail-for-halloween-say-yes/ https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/make-your-own-animal-nose-ears-tail-for-halloween-say-yes/#respond Tue, 26 Oct 2021 04:57:20 +0000 https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/make-your-own-animal-nose-ears-tail-for-halloween-say-yes/

For the tail:

Supplies: Pink elastic, pink felt, pink pipe cleaner, fabri-tac or hot glue, scissors

Step 1: Cut a piece of felt a bit longer than the pipe cleaner and that’s wide enough that it can fold over it.

Step 2: Place the pipe cleaner inside, wrap and glue the felt around it.

Step 3: Glue the tail to a piece of elastic that will fit around your little one’s waist

 

This article was originally published by sayyes.com. Read the original article here.

]]> https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/make-your-own-animal-nose-ears-tail-for-halloween-say-yes/feed/ 0 Try This Fun “Boo-zy” Green Juice Cocktail For A Healthier Halloween https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/try-this-fun-boo-zy-green-juice-cocktail-for-a-healthier-halloween/ https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/try-this-fun-boo-zy-green-juice-cocktail-for-a-healthier-halloween/#respond Tue, 19 Oct 2021 17:06:11 +0000 https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/try-this-fun-boo-zy-green-juice-cocktail-for-a-healthier-halloween/

The mix of veggies like broccoli, kale, spinach, plus sea veggies allows this greens powder to provide essential vitamins and minerals. Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., CDN, says it’s also a good way to aid digestion: “Because the organic veggies+ contains digestive enzymes, probiotics, and a little fiber, it can be a way to incorporate some gut-healthy elements into your day.”*

If you’re planning to opt for a mocktail, this mix works just as wonderfully with a few ounces of your favorite kombucha swapped in for the liquor portion (which will add extra gut-heathy probiotics to the party).

Because the formula is so simple, it’s actually really easy to adjust it to your tastes and to what you know works best for your body—while some people prefer the botanical feel of gin, others may opt for the more smoky flavor of mezcal or the sharpness of tequila.

While there are added benefits of working a greens powder into your cocktail, it doesn’t mean you’re negating the booze: “Just note, that doesn’t automatically mean your cocktail becomes healthy. A cocktail is still a cocktail,” says Cording. “From my perspective, it’s really about having a good experience and practicing moderation and safety when consuming alcohol.”

Make it even more Halloween-y by opting for a blood orange as your citrus component, or you could cut it with another citrus juice. Since this green juice cocktail takes only four ingredients to put together, it’s simple enough to whip up for any virtual shindig—and you’ll certainly be the toast of the party.

This article was originally published by mindbodygreen.com. Read the original article here.

]]> https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/try-this-fun-boo-zy-green-juice-cocktail-for-a-healthier-halloween/feed/ 0 Healthy Candy for Halloween Trick-or-Treating https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/healthy-candy-for-halloween-trick-or-treating/ https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/healthy-candy-for-halloween-trick-or-treating/#respond Sat, 02 Oct 2021 12:00:24 +0000 https://lessmeatmoreveg.com/healthy-candy-for-halloween-trick-or-treating/
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In case you’re wondering if you’ve got the right blog, never fear… no, I don’t think there is such a thing as healthy candy!

By “healthy” I just mean “better than the alternatives,” meaning made from real food ingredients and without artificial dyes, preservatives, and all the other junk found in typical candy.

I still prefer to opt for candy-free gifts or experiences whenever possible, even at Halloween. But thanks to companies making candy with better ingredients, our family can take part in neighborhood trick-or-treat festivities (without resorting to handing out seaweed snacks… although I happen to think those are also delicious!).

Wait… Is Healthy Candy Good for You?

Given the negative health effects of sugar… no, definitely not!

I’ve taken some flack for my stance on sugar. (But hey, I can’t help what the science says.) There were quite a few years we even skipped parties and trick-or-treating altogether.

We’ve experimented with different approaches to Halloween (the ultimate candy-palooza) over the years. As our kids got older, we decided that rather than opt out, we could use Halloween or other special events as a chance for our kids to practice making good food choices.

Now that more companies are making better candy options (with ingredients I can actually recognize), I’ve been able to find some favorites that my kids love and I can live with. Mixing these in (sparingly) with plenty of non-candy alternatives makes for a fun, creative, and healthy Halloween that I think is better than the original tradition!

Healthier Candy (& Non-Candy) Alternatives for Trick-or-Treating

I usually make my own candy or chocolate when we are going to have it, but that won’t fly for trick-or-treating. If you’re looking for healthier store-bought candy, here are the ones that passed the test for us.

Of course you won’t find many of these in your local grocery store, so I use my Thrive Market membership to stock up. The prices are low, it’s convenient, and I love the selection.

All of the following treats are economical (.15-.50 cents each on average) and individually wrapped for trick-or-treating. Bonus, the neighborhood kids will probably like them better than the junky stuff!

Start With a Healthy Meal

First the good stuff, then the junk? This holds true at my house on Halloween. These are our favorite Halloween themed meals and snacks that have plenty of protein, fat, and fiber to fill everyone up and keep the sugar rush at bay.

Organic Spooky Fruit Snacks

These gummy packs get their color and flavor from real food ingredients like pear juice and carrot juice. A far cry from most store-bought candies, these are organic and gluten free.

Really Peely Fruit Tape

Remember these from the school lunch days? Something about the shape just makes this fruit leather more fun. This version uses real fruit and skips the corn syrup.

Grain Free Crackers

Give kids a break from all the sweet treats with these yummy grain-free crackers. They’ll never know they’re nutritious to boot. These are also individually wrapped for easy trick-or-treat distribution.

Popcorn Snack Packs

We don’t do popcorn often, but when we do we choose gluten-free and non-GMO. Kids and grown-ups alike will love the “buttery” goodness of coconut oil and a sprinkle of pink Himalayan salt.

Yum Earth Gummies

This is another candy brand I can get behind for the occasional treat, and kids love the tart flavor and fun twisty shape. The colors look a bit like candy corn too, but come from natural sources like black currants and turmeric.

Peanut Butter Cups (Without Peanut Butter)

No Halloween trick-or-treating list could be complete without peanut butter cups. These Dark Almond Butter Cups are perfect since they’re nut-allergy friendly and (in my opinion) an improvement on the classic treat.

Torie & Howard Chewie Fruities

These chewy fruit candies look exactly like the popular Starburst candies, but use mostly organic and natural ingredients and no artificial flavors or colors. Plus, their creative flavors will tempt even grown-ups: meyer lemon & raspberry, pomegranate & nectarine, and blood orange & honey.

Best Buy: Natural Lollipops

I know shopping for natural or organic products can mean a real bite out of the budget, but this time there’s no excuse. I saved the best for last with these natural assorted lollipops… 40 organic and real-fruit flavored pops in a bag for less than 15 cents each!

Non-Candy Goodies for Trick-or-Treating

Again, I offer these only as occasional alternatives for special occasions where candy is unavoidable (like Halloween), not as weekly/daily foods for kids.

To keep candy from being the center of the holiday, mix in plenty of non-edible treats and prizes. They are still inexpensive and kids love them! Here are 26 ideas of what to give out at Halloween besides candy.

Other Healthy Halloween Snacks & Treats (Kids Like!)

One strategy for limiting candy consumption is to offer kids plenty of nutritious food before heading out the door to trick-or-treat. Rather than our usual dinner, we make some Halloween-themed appetizers to share and make sure they are heavy on protein and fiber (and low on sugar).

While there are a million ideas for healthy Halloween party food, I’ve only tried ones that seemed very simple and easy to prepare (because I am not Martha Stewart), but I’m happy to report most of these turned out very well with little time and effort. In most cases, the kids were begging to take over and make them themselves. (I let them!)

Here are some favorite Halloween party snacks and treats we’ve tried:

I also keep some homemade treats along with some non-candy prizes on hand for after trick-or-treating. The kids cash in some of their less ideal candy for fun Halloween jewelry, trinkets, or toys. They usually have no problem with this and in fact look forward to it.

Have a Happy Halloween!

Bottom line, sharing in community with our friends and neighbors is a top priority for us. These options are about as close to healthy candy as you can get, and they’ve made participating in the trick-or-treating possible for our family. By providing some better alternatives to the usual Halloween candy-fest, we hope our kids will have a positive outlook on healthy eating and get to focus on just having fun!

What do you hand out at Halloween? Have you found candy with better ingredients? Please share!


This article was originally published by wellnessmama.com. Read the original article here.

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