Food Friday: No tricks, just treats

I was the witch of the neighborhood last Halloween.

Instead of passing out candy like a normal person, I decided that I was not - in no way, shape or form - going to contribute to the obesity epidemic in the United States. I was not going to give children chocolate and sugar just because they looked cute and were wearing costumes. I was not going to add their bags of fat and processed goods. I just wasn't.

And so, last year, I went to Universal Merchandise (a bulk party store of sorts in Fort Wayne), and I stocked up on spider rings, pirate tattoos and pumpkin erasers. Things that were fun. Things that were not edible.

I sat outside with Mark, Miles and Denali, and I handed out those things (along with a single teeny-tiny Tootsie Roll). Some of the little kids were appreciative; others, the older ones and the homeless man, were ... shall we say ... skeptical. I was ... shall we say ... embarrassed. My plan meant well but it just wasn't any fun. Halloween should be fun.

Even if it means passing out a treat or two.

This year, I'm ditching the rings and my stainless steel bowl is going to be filled with goodies -- ones that I can feel good about passing out.

Snyder's Of Hanover Pretzels Mini Snack. Sure, they are processed and salty but it's a low-fat alternative with one mini bag containing less than 50 calories. I have found these on sale at Target and CVS, and I have paid about 10 cents per unit - comparable in price to fun-size candy bars.

Teddy Grahams. Who doesn't like something sweet? Teddy Grahams have less sugar than candy with just 7 grams and offer at least a bit of staying power. These are great for younger children, like Miles, who might go trick-or-treating but can't/don't eat candy. If you want to do me one better, I saw mini bags of Annie's bunnies but they were a bit more than I wanted to spend.

Fruit snacks. I was happy to see that Target's Market Pantry brand had Halloween fruit snacks - 100 percent juice - for less than 10 cents a unit. Fruit snacks aren't as good for younger toddlers but I haven't met a kid who hates fruit snacks. Just be sure they brush well as the gummis can get stuck and lead to cavities.

Unreal Candy (if I can find it). I liked the Unreal candy so much when I had the chance to try it, and it is something I can feel good about - no corn syrup, GMOs or hydrogenated oils. I heard rumors from PR folks that mini sizes should be available at Target and CVS but I have yet to find it. These would be great for the older kids who should be able to decide how to ration candy and limit portions.

And while I am super amped to hand out treats this year, Miles will be making his trick-or-treat debut.

We'll probably just take him to a few houses around us to show him off to neighbors and maybe score some sugar (for me) to keep me going through the excitement. After all, trick-or-treating is for the parents. Right? Right!

Addendum

My friend on Facebook posted this note, and I think it's important to keep in my mind to make sure everyone has fun on Halloween. 

With Halloween upon us, please keep in mind, a lot of little people will be visiting your home. Be accepting. The child who is grabbing more than one piece of candy may have poor fine motor skills. The child who takes forever to pick out one piece of candy may have motor planning issues. The child who does not say "trick or treat" or "thank you" may be non-verbal. The child who looks disappointed when they see your bowl, might have an allergy. The child who isn't wearing a costume at all might have a sensory issue (SPD) or autism. Be nice. Be patient. Its everyone's Halloween. ~Borrowed from "I Love Being A Mom & Wife"

Food Friday: Eating, lately

I've done something magical: I've trained (nearly) for a marathon, and I haven't gained weight. In fact, I've even dropped a couple pounds.

OK, it's really not all that magical. Weight loss is about calories in and calories out. Simple as that. There's plenty of calories out during training but there's also the tendency to put a lot calories in. The trick is to make the calories good stuff as the gorgeous Kim (the other one) pointed out.

Van's Lite Waffles with Razzle Dazzle PB Crave and blackberry jam. Love Van's. Love PB Crave.

Taco Lentils with Garden of Eatin' Sweet Potato Corn Tortilla chips, red onion and just a sprinkle of cheese - it's like nachos gone healthy. The chips were sent to me for review, and I am loving them. I like them more as just a snack, a few in the afternoon to quell the salt fix, but there are nice with both my lentils and black bean chili.

Unreal candy. Have you guys seen this in the store? They have it at my CVS (yes, it's mine), and it's candy without the "junk" or so they say. There's no corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial ingredients, GMOs or preservatives. So, obviously, it is healthy. Duh. OK, maybe not but it is better for you and the varieties I've tried (UN 54, UN 5, UN 8, UN 77) all tend to have fewer calories than their "junked" counterparts.

Pad Kai Mao. I had a rare evening by myself last night, and I decided to treat myself to dinner. I couldn't decide what I wanted, though, and I randomly found myself at Ma Hnin Asia Restaurant, a local place that serves Burmese and Thai food.

Fun fact: Fort Wayne has one of the largest, if not largest, populations of Burmese people outside of Myanmar.

I've always wanted to try Ma Hnin but the place is a bit suspect looking. Then again, all the best places are. I got a chicken-noodle dish that featured fresh, handmade noodles and lots of veggies. I got just a little bit spicy, which was more than enough (especially after I bit right into a pepper). It was delicious and I loved ... all the bites I could eat. It's all about portion control, my friends.

Ice cream. So I skip dairy ... most days. On long run days, though, once the miles are logged, I have a treat or two.

I'm apparently unable to enjoy time by myself because after I painted my nails and watched two episodes of "Grey's Anatomy," I called Mark to see if he and Miles wanted to meet me for ice cream before coming home. It was probably the last warm night of the year and the last time we'll visit for the season. Baby cone for Miles, black raspberry shake for Mark and chocolate sundae for me.

It's hard to believe that Miles couldn't hold the cone or sit on the bench like a big boy for our first trip this year.

What have you been eating lately?