Halloween Candy: What's a Parent to Do?

October is a fun time to revel in the crisp fall weather and colors, dress up in costumes, and enjoy the company of friends and family.  In American culture, it is also a time when candies, created with industrial food additives, inundate our society.  Running errands, we may easily find a dish of candy awaiting at most every stop – the bank, hairdresser, auto repair, and even the doctor’s office.  What’s a caring parent or a sugar addict to do? Here are tricks to help you manage your treats.

Leave the house satisfied

We crave sugar when we have insufficient fat in our diet.  One of the best ways to avoid nibbling sweets is to eat rich, fat filled meals before you leave the house. Take the time to enjoy some avocado, bacon or eggs in the morning. If you tolerate dairy, add organic full fat yogurt or cottage cheese to your lunch. Choose raw dairy if it is available. Snack on my delicious No Bake Lemon Coconut Drops to satisfy your need for fat with a hint of sweet.

Have snacks with you

Great news, the cooler weather means we can more easily get away with having foods available on the go.  Either in a purse or bag or in the car – tucked under the seat, in the glove box, or in a box in the trunk, savory snacks can save you when you’re out and about.

My favorite, go-to, portable snacks:

• Crispy nuts
• Canned sardines or mackerel from Vital Choice Seafood
• Beef Jerky
• Sliced cheese with crackers, apple slices, or other favorite pairings
• Smoothie – sometimes there is a little leftover from the morning or the day before.  Just pour some into a portable jar or your favorite spill proof mug, and you’re golden while stuck in traffic or running errands.

The Hungry Goblin, Candy Fairy or Great Pumpkin

For those of you with children, consider letting them select a specific number of candies from the trick or treat booty.  Then have them set out their remaining candies for the Hungry Goblin, Candy Fairy or Great Pumpkin to come and eat. In trade for your child’s candy, this Halloween Visitor leaves behind a small gift your child will have fun playing with or treasure. If you or your child is on the GAPS protocol, leave all the candy. A few organic, GAPS legal sweeties may be left for children who gave up all of their trick or treat tasties. The candies would be gone in days or weeks with lingering ill health effects. The gift, however may be played with for months or cherished for years. A joy your family can share together.

This article appeared in the October 2014 Savor Your Health Newsletter. Sign up in the Sidebar to get more tips, tricks and delicious recipes delivered to your inbox every month.

For the Goblins, Witches, Princes, and Fairies: Lemon Coconut Drop Candies

Easy No Bake Candies

After a full nourishing dinner, have your little ones stock up on these before going out trick or treating.  Their bellies will be full of the natural sweetness of creamy coconut with a touch of raw honey and they will have little desire (or room) for all the toxic candies being handed out.  You don't have to celebrate Halloween to appreciate these lemon drops of yumminess.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup *coconut cream concentrate
• ¼ - ½ cup raw honey (less is best!)
• 1 teaspoon finely grated **lemon zest
• Juice of 1 meyer **lemon (or the juice of 2 regular **lemons)
• 1-3 Tbsp. of coconut oil or ghee
• Optional: Dried coconut flakes, toasted if desired
• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Note: As always, I only recommend sourcing and utilizing organic ingredients for this and all recipes. You're worth the extra investment in your health!

 *Coconut cream concentrate is also known as coconut cream, coconut butter, or coconut spread, depending on the brand that produces it.

**Limes can be substituted in place of the lemon juice and peel. I enjoy them both and have even done a lemon lime comination when I was low on both!  
🎶 Put the lime in the coconut and eat it all up! 🎶

Tip: Warm the coconut cream concentrate to peanut butter consistency before you make this.  You can put the jar in a bowl of hot water to help soften the coconut cream concentrate.

Instructions: Mix the first 5 ingredients together until well mixed and smooth. I use my food processor, high speed blender, or hand mixer for this step. 
Form into balls and roll them in the coconut flakes (optional) and refrigerate or freeze. You can also put them in candy molds or a mini muffin pan (with or without the coconut flakes sprinkled and gently pressed in on top) to get a different look. They will harden when they're cold.

These little bites just melt in your mouth and are wonderfully tart and lemony, blending beautifully with the creamy coconut.  Even if you think you don't like coconut but love lemon or lime, make these. They're quick and easy and make the perfect treat. I love to make a double batch and share as little gifts and freeze a bunch so I have them on hand when I want a premade homemade treat for myself or others. Yum!

Addition: I have also started keeping some in little jelly jars so I can scoop a bit out when I want to use it as a toping to add to other fabulous dessert treats. So good! Let me know in the comments section if you'd like to know more. 

This recipe was modified from one submitted to Tropical Traditions, a wonderful company that sells coconut cream, coconut oil and many other healthful, tasty products.

This article appeared in the October 2014 Savor Your Health Newsletter. Sign up in the Sidebar to get more tips, tricks and delicious recipes delivered to your inbox every month.