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eco: Eek-O-Friendly Fun
|by Elizabeth Wasserman
Oh the joy, and the horror! A sugar rush meltdown is waiting to happen. And when you
stop to think about what’s in all those irresistible candies being consumed and colorful
paints covering precious faces, things get really
spooky.
Let’s be real; those Skittles colors are as unnatural as the evening’s theme. But does this mean
no candy for the kiddos and your house being
pegged as that family who passes out pencils,
pennies or apples? Have no fear – we’ve got
some guidelines to candies and costumes that
should help you navigate dangerous waters
while remaining cool as a cat.
Healthier Treats
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First, let’s talk candy, which also usually means
GMOs. Of course you’d never expect Reese’s
Pieces to be certified organic, but did you know
that most popular candy brands use sugar that
comes from GMO sugar beets? Also be wary
of the commonly used GMO-derived fructose,
glucose, high fructose corn syrup, cornstarch,
soybean oil and canola oils. Many of our favorite childhood brands are known culprits of
GMO ingredient sourcing, including KitKat,
Twix, Skittles, Toot sie Roll, Butterfinger, Candy
Corn, Mike & Ike, Mounds, Snickers, Milky
Way, Dots, Nerds and many more.
Other candy concerns include the widespread
use of artificial colors and flavors, which are
linked to a variety of health concerns from behavioral disorders to allergies. One good rule of
the thumb: if you don’t find a color in nature, it
probably shouldn’t be found in your food. Yep,
I’m talking about you Mr. Hot Blue Skittle.
Another great trick for your treats is choosing
options that are sweetened naturally with fruit
juice, such as certain gummies and organic
lollipops. Fair trade organic chocolate bars are
also a sure hit. So go ahead and pat yourself
on the back knowing that at least the inevitable sugar rush will be naturally sourced (that
counts for something, right?).
Photography by Francine Slate, Slate Photography
Your little ones are dressed up as princesses,
superheroes, animals and mythical creatures.
They’re covered in face paint, giggling and
chasing each other with wands and light sabers.
Everything is going smoothly…until the trickor-treating wraps up, and your little rug rat is
determined to toss back an entire bag of candy
larger than her head.