The approach of Halloween almost always signals a trip to the nearest big-box store for an industrial-sized bag of candy to hand out to trick- or-treaters and fill party bowls. Attempts to opt out for your health can earn you dirty looks, concerned questions, and a less-than-stellar reputation as “that one house that hands out toothbrushes/apples/Tic Tacs” until you move. It can also be sad to dismiss tradition, particularly if you’d love some candy, too. So, what is a health-conscious cook to do? Well, one way to mix up your candy routine is by making your own. Though it won’t be healthy exactly, taking control of the food you eat has plenty of benefits. For one, homemade candy doesn’t need to have a long shelf life, so you can avoid the many preservatives in store-bought candy. You can also screen the other ingredients, choosing organic and local options to boost your vitamin intake. If you’re adventurous, try swapping in honey or maple syrup for sugar or experimenting with carob instead of chocolate. You can even integrate fruits and vegetables to reap their health benefits: Try dehydrated berries in chocolate bars or use vegetable juice to dye your taffy. While you’re at it, why not attempt your dream candy? If there’s a WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE YOUR OWN HALLOWEEN CANDY An Argument for Healthy(er) Sweets
flavor combination you’ve always wished for, now is the time to make it happen. Just remember that innovation takes patience; you may need to give the recipe a few tries before it comes out just right. Even your waistline can benefit from turning your kitchen into a candy factory, provided you don’t eat all of your creations. In fact, every step — and pot lifted and pan scrubbed — in the kitchen burns calories and leads to better fitness. Making your own Halloween candy does come with one big caveat: For many trick-or-treaters, hand-wrapped sweets aren’t always parent- approved. Tales of hidden razor blades have led many parents to inspect their kids’ Halloween candy and toss anything not industrially sealed. Still, if you know your neighbors well, you can certainly hand out your homemade goodies — and they’re sure to be a hit at Halloween parties.
LOCAL HALLOWEEN EVENTS THAT WILL HAVE YOU HOWLING WITH EXCITEMENT!
In the theme of Halloween, all of us here at Greeley Endodontics wanted to provide you with some fun-filled family festivities going on in the area this month. We can’t promise that your trick-or-treating experience will be quite as exhilarating as Dr. Lowry’s was in during his preteen years, but we can still claim with 100% certainty that you’ll have an amazing time! Here are three local Halloween events you won’t want to miss! THE GREAT COLORADO PUMPKIN PATCH Location: Tigges Farm Date/Time: Oct. 1–31; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tigges Farm’s pumpkin patch, located in Weld County between Windsor and Greeley, is the perfect place to a headstart on all things fall! With no admission fee, there’s no reason you can’t load up the entire family, grab a wagon or two, and meander your way around the massive garden, picking out pumpkins of various sizes that are all perfect for carving. You can also find corn stalks, straw bales, Indian corn, and gourds for all your fall decorating needs. Are you
ready to carve a picture-perfect jack-o’- lantern this Halloween? Tigges Farm is the perfect place to start! HOWL-O-WEEN TRICK OR TREAT Location: Centennial Village Museum Date/Time: Oct. 19–20; 3–7 p.m. Are you Halloween fanatic? Are you also a history buff? Well this year, Centennial Village Museum has worked hard to combine two of your favorite pastimes! Put on your scariest or silliest costume and get ready for some epic trick-or-treating throughout all the historical buildings. You can also make your way through the haunted house (it’s not too scary for kids), enter the costume contest for your chance to win a prize, or try your hand at several Halloween carnival games. Admission is $3 per person, ages 3 and older. TRICK OR TREAT STREET Location: Downtown Greeley Date/Time: Oct. 25; 4–6 p.m. With both the 8th and 9th Street plazas
closed for traffic and maximum safety, your fairy princess, scary ghost, or fighting ninjas have the perfect location for some prime trick-or-treating. Several downtown businesses will be participating, but there will also be activities like Candy Corn Bowling, Pumpkin Decorating, and Pumpkin Cornhole for the first 150 participants. Plus, there will be treats that have been strategically placed around the plaza for kids to find. Pick up your map on the corner by the Rio and let the Halloween treat hunt begin!
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