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The statistics are definitely scary. One in four children in Colorado is now at an unhealthy weight or obese, and overall, our state's child health ranking has plummeted from 3rd to 23rd because of a dramatic increase in childhood obesity.

"Making healthy eating and active living interesting and attractive to kids is an important part of the childhood obesity solution," said Tracy Boyle, vice president of marketing and communications with LiveWell Colorado, a non-profit organization committed to reducing and preventing obesity in Colorado. "Halloween is a perfect time to illustrate how making healthier choices doesn't have to equate to less fun."

Moderation is Key
From school parties to community parades to neighborhood trick-or-treat, candy beckons from behind every cobweb-decorated corner. And while there's n no way to completely eliminate the sweets (it is Halloween after all), the best way to moderate the sugar intake is to plan ahead.

First, arrange to hand out treats that are healthful or less harmful, while being creative to avoid getting your house egged or trees TP'd. Give visiting ghouls and princesses mini bags of naturally sweetened fruit gummies, dried apple chips or whole wheat animal shaped crackers, such as Annie's bunnies. Or, better yet, hand out non-food items such as themed stickers, bubbles and play-doh.

Second, consider providing your munchkin with a traditional pumpkin carrier or small bag - versus a pillow case - so it will fill up faster. This allows for the full Halloween experience while naturally limiting the potential number of treats that will eventually end up being eaten by a child. Also, be sure they eat a healthy meal before trick-or-treating so they aren't as tempted to eat several pieces of candy that night.

Once home, go through the candy not only for safety concerns but also to prioritize portions. Snack-sized baggies are helpful in creating daily treat packs that will help manage a kid's calorie intake and make treats last longer. After three days, dispose of, or freeze, the remaining candy so your Halloween doesn't last a full week.

Dress-Up School Parties
The candy children receive on Halloween night is less of an issue than the one to two weeks of school and community parties that precedes it. Too often, the parties become junk food free-for-alls. But this doesn't have to be the case.

To start, try trading in sugar- and calorie-laden cupcakes for "abracadabra wands" made by stacking fresh fruit onto sticks and serving it with low-fat yogurt dip. (Food coloring can liven up the dip to match Halloween themes). Naturally sweetened, 100% fruit juice and plain sparkling water make a fun "witches brew," while the class Jack-O-Lantern can be used for yummy roasted pumpkin seeds. Raisins, natural peanut butter, pretzels and celery are all the ingredients needed to make spooky spiders or add jalapenos for spicy grave yard "slugs."

Halloween parties are also a great opportunity to add more activity into the day. For example, a Monster Bash music party will encourage the children to actively showcase their most ghoulish dance moves.

While Halloween candy often comes in "fun sizes," the accumulated impact of added sugar, increased caloric intake and less activity in our children's lives makes for a not-so-entertaining outcome. For more ideas on how to make healthier changes in your children's lives, even during Halloween, join the movement at www.LiveWellColorado.org.