6 ways to have a healthier Halloween
You don’t have to sacrifice candy or fun.
Jan, 2026
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Kids love Halloween—and odds are you do, too. Candy is, of course, the main draw of the holiday. While one evening filled with sugar isn't going to make or break most people’s long-term health, it can’t hurt to incorporate wholesome treats and fun games into your festivities this year. Not to mention, healthier activities will allow you and your kids to focus on something other than the sweets.
Here are some tips that will help your family move more and cut calories, without sacrificing all the spooky fun.
Written byOlivia DeLong.
Medically reviewed byGaby Vaca-Flores, RD.
Sources: Mayo Clinic. Added sugars: Don't get sabotaged by sweeteners. February 9 + 10
- Mayo Clinic. Added sugars: Don't get sabotaged by sweeteners. February 9, 2023.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Get the Facts: Added Sugars. November 28, 2021.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. Spook-tacular Healthy Halloween Ideas: USDA Evidence-Based Ideas for a Healthy and Safe Halloween. August 03, 2021.
- Mayo Clinic Health System. Pumpkins: More than a jack-o’-lantern. October 6, 2020.
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Tips for a Healthy Halloween Party. October 17, 2022.
- Piya-Amornphan N, Santiworakul A, Cetthakrikul S, et al. Physical activity and creativity of children and youths. BMC Pediatr. 2020;20(1):118.
- Action for Healthy Kids. Healthy Halloween Games. Accessed January 24, 2023.
- FoodSafety.gov. Halloween Treats: Better Safe Than Scary. Accessed January 24, 2023.
- The Nemours Foundation: KidsHealth. Halloween Safety Tips. Page last reviewed October 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Happy Hauntings: 13 Tips for a Healthy Halloween. October 29, 2019.
- Safe Kids Worldwide. Halloween Safety Tips. Accessed January 24, 2023.
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