It’s Halloween week and of course, the kids and I are super excited and apparently we’re not the only ones. Halloween is the third biggest festival of the year after Christmas and Easter. Us Brits are happy to splash the cash to get our ghoul on and embrace the Halloween spirit. In fact, according to Mintell, we’re going to spend a hair raising £419 million this year on this celebration. 40% of this frightening figure will be going on sweet, sugary spooky treats. The average child will consume a scary 675g of sugar equivalent 169 sugar cubes – a genuine fright fest. Let’s not even think about the sugar high that comes with it. It’s the stuff of nightmares for parents all around the globe. Even that master of horror Stephen King wouldn’t want to be a part of that story.
I’ve teamed up with TouchNote, the world’s first personalised cards service. They are helping parents make Halloween healthier for their kids and save money on dressing up costumes – one of the biggest expenses.
I tend not to buy Halloween outfits for the kids each year. Who really needs an outfit that’ll be worn just the once and then sits in the wardrobe until you finally donate it to a charity shop or throw it out in the trash. We prefer to make our own. They can look so much better, plus you won’t turn up to a party with an identical outfit and it gives the kids a sense of achievement and pride too when they get to help.
Where to find inspiration for Halloween Costumes
There are so many different costume ideas if you simply look. The most popular places for parents to find Halloween costume inspiration is on social media. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest are all brimming with a wide variety of options. But, it isn’t always easy to make a costume from a picture. For this reason, TouchNote has collaborated with makeup artist Sarah Edwards-Knight to produce a series of Halloween ‘hacks’ videos to help save parents from spending a fortune on kid’s costumes. Options include a ghost, The Joker, and a skeleton. These are great for ideas on how to make our own Halloween costumes at a lower cost and its better for the environment than shop-bought outfits.
Sarah, a mother of three, said: “I know parents who spend a small fortune every year on costumes for their little ones. Save money and do it yourself – it really isn’t that hard if you follow my simple step-by-step guides. Go bring out the ghost in your kids – you’ll love it, your kids will love it and your friends will be impressed.”
See the videos here.
Cheap, Simple, Low-Sugar Halloween Recipes
It’s not just the outfit that we need to consider though, and that’s not just the foodie in me talking. Any parent will agree that avoiding excessive sugar foods is also important. TouchNote has partnered with American Instagrammer Hungermama to create a series of eye-catching healthy recipe-cards that parents can receive in the post when they download the TouchNote app. These healthy treats are loved by kids and guaranteed to keep their teeth intact and avoid a sugar-rush meltdown.
The low-sugar recipes are cheap and simple to put together and will help take the horror out of Halloween. TouchNote have created an easy to follow video explaining more here and you can order the recipe cards from: https://touchnote.com/
Just to note: as part of a free trial of the service, new users can send two recipe cards for free. The service is also a great way to send friends and family a photocard of your child in their spooky Halloween get-up.
Recipes include:
Shrunken Baked Apple Heads: Gruesomely healthy baked apple heads with just fruit, spices, coconut butter and the naturally occurring sweetener, agave nectar.
Cobwebby Pumpkin Pancakes, a clever way to get some veg into your kids on Halloween using the pulp scooped out from the jack-o-lantern, making good use of what might otherwise be thrown away (or you can use pre-prepared puree from a tin).
Spooky Fruit Punch: a blend of soda water and fruit juice complete with a chilling frozen hand for extra shivers. You can turn up the horror with a garnish of blueberry stuffed lychee eyeballs.
Halloween Cards
We’re used to sending cards for birthdays, Christmas and more recently Easter. The trend seems to be spreading through the holidays as we received our first-ever Halloween card last year. Halloween cards are a lovely idea and a great way to share pictures with friends and family.
TouchNote CEO Dan Ziv said: “We know people love to send and receive cards, but they might not think of this at Halloween – until now.”
“TouchNote is all about celebrating the every day and what we’re doing here is helping parents share a new, healthier approach to Halloween with the help of Hungermama. We’re really proud of this collaboration and it’s been a pleasure working to make this a healthier celebration.
“As a father to a young boy myself, I know all about the sugar overload on Halloween! Anything that can help parents bring some healthy food to the biggest sugar night of the year has to be a good thing.”
Which recipe would you like to try most from those mentioned in this post?
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Yum, these sound tasty! I am all about easy. I’m just making a soup in the slow cooker for Halloween since it’s going to be cold that day.
It is definitely going to be cold on Halloween. A soup is a great idea. Hope that’s followed by something low sugar and yummy 🙂
It’s true that children eat so much sugar during Halloween. I like that you are suggesting better recipes for Halloween treats, based on fruits.
Me too, it’s great. Kids do tend to steer towards sugary treats so teaching them from now that not all treats need to be high in sugar is a good thing.
These are some great ideas! I would definitely try the pumpkin pancakes!
They do look delicious. Pancakes are a great easy recipe and this Halloween makeover is great.
I love the baked apple heads, especially the designs that are cut into them. Very spooky!
They do look great Nyxie. I think that they are perfect for Halloween.
With such ideas, however simple, you get a really good result at home!
That’s very true. The simplest things can give great results.
I like Halloween but I find it just comes and goes really quickly. I’ve never thought about sending Halloween cards before.
I know. Not many do. It can be fun to create pictures for them. Kids do love to dress up.
Oh these are such awesome ideas so you can still enjoy Halloween! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!
No problem Krysten. I’m so pleased you liked them.
I really want to try pancakes looks yummy my daughter loves pancakes thanks for sharing
No problem Asma. I hope you and your daughter liked them.
I love the lower sugar recipes that you shared. I always try to give my kids options with lower sugar because there’s so many sweet treats right now at school and at family/friends homes.
It is a great way to try and reduce their sugar intake.
Some really great halloween ideas here, I love what you can do with food to make it halloween themed
Halloween themed food really do make it so much more fun!!!
I’m actually not such a Halloween fan but your ideas are really original – and I feel like looking deeper into it.
It is a fun time to celebrate especially for those with children and the young at heart 🙂
I really want to make Halloween extra special this year. ITs the last holiday before new baby. Love these ideas!
Aaahhh congratulation. I hope you have an amazing Halloween x
I love the simplicity of those! Who has the time and energy to invest in decorations and elaborate recipes!
That is true. Many don’t have the time althoughI’ve noticed some people start decorating early now. I agree it’s great they are simple recipes. It makes it much easier for those that attempt them.
The pancakes look delicious and so easy to make as well. I’m going to have to try them!
Enjoy the pancakes Hayley. They are a great Halloween treat.
I do like easy. These are ideas that I need to try especially the pancakes.
I do love that pancake recipe!!!
I am definitely going to be giving some of these Halloween recipes a go – they sound absolutely fantastic.
They sure do. How easy is that fruit punch to make. I bet it tastes good too.
These are some great ideas I have to admit I’ve not thought about sending Halloween cards before but they seem to be everywhere this year! The apple recipe sounds delicious, it’s good to be sugar conscious.
They are becoming more popular. The apple recipe does sound good. I’m hoping to watch the kids sugar intake on Halloween and as long as their sweet stash last.
oh wow halloween cards what a cute and adorable idea, i will be trying them for sure!
They are a lovely idea 🙂
Oh wow, these all sound so good. But I think my boys would like the cobweb pancakes because we just love pancakes here! And I love that you were able to use the pulp from the pumpkins instead of wasting it.
The cobweb pancakes sound fantastic don’t they! They are easy enough to make which is great and look perfect for Halloween.
These low sugar Halloween recipes look great. I have been doing less sugar so these are some really great ideas.
They are ideal for those looking to reduce their sugar content and time of year.
I love halloween! Haven’t thought about sending cards for halloween but it’s a good way pf celebrating it. Those cobwebby pumpkin pancakes look really good and mouthwatering, I would love to try them myself.
The pumpkin pancakes sound yummy. Pancakes are always a great little treat.
My eldest daughter would love to try the Cobwebby Pumpkin Pancakes, they do look so much fun
They do look good. They’d make a great breakfast for Halloween.
Lovely this ideas for Halloween very easy and quickly to made 🙂 The pancake looks delicious!
It helps to find recipes that are not over complicated. These are easy and effective.
When we move I can’t wait to get trick or treaters around and seeing all the kids costumes. As we don’t have kids ourselves then we don’t have much to do for parties and costumes x
It can be a really fun night. The outfits that some people wear – especially homemade, can be pretty amazing!
The Pumpkin pancakes look good and they can be part of a special meal in this Halloween.
I think the do look great. My kids would be happy to try them.
I literally LOVE these Halloween week ideas! I just love spooky season.
Same here. It’s a fun time for children and adults.
There are some excellent ideas on this blog post. Halloween must be fun in your house.
We do love Halloween. With 3 children it is something we do have fun celebrating.
I am on a no sugar diet so there will be no items with sugar in it around the house except for bread. This is a useful list of options available for anyone interested in making low sugar dishes.
It sure is. It helps to have these sort of recipes handy.
Those pancakes look so fun! I definitely want to try to make them on Halloween. The kids will love them!
I am sure they will. Everyone loves pancakes and with this Halloween twist they’ll be even better I’m sure.
Thank you for the recipes. The shrunken baked apple heads look pretty scary to me, but I bet they are delicious! I will try making that. I know I still have a lot of time to prepare and I am glad I saw your recipe.
I bet you’ll love them. they really do look like a great Halloween treat 🙂
I’ve been making baked apples recently. It’s a nice treat that allows me to have a sweet treat that is also healthy.
They are a great healthy option and very yummy.
Such a creative ideas. I really like food in the weird halloween shapes. I want to try them all.
They are great ideas I totally agree. Perfect for Halloween.
I love all these ideas and the fact that they are low in sugar is a massive plus for sure xx
It sure is. Low sugar recipes can be really tasty and of course much healthier.
I love the ice hand in the punch! Love Halloween it just lets everyone be a little bit silly!
It’s a great idea and simple to do which helps.
Those apple heads are terrifying and therefore absolutely perfect for Halloween! Some awesome ideas 🙂 (I think I might try the pancakes with the kids tomorrow) xx
They do look amazing don’t they!!! Just what we need for a Halloween treat.
The Cobwebby Pumpkin pancakes would definitely be something my kids would try! Great pictures and ideas for making this Halloween fun!
It is a fun time, so I think that the foods should be fun too. I love these recipe and costume ideas.
I am loving the spooky punch idea – what a brilliant idea. Bit gutted we are away now
Oh no that’s a shame. It gives you ideas if you wanted to do a little Halloween themed party when you get back or for next year. Have fun x
Those shrunken baked apples are the PERFECT creepy addition to a halloween celebration!
The apples are a lovely recipe idea. They are easy to make which helps.
Very useful ideas! Those Cobwebby Pumpkin Pancakes look delicious and magic! The kids will love them!
They are ideal for kids!!!
I would definitely try the cobwebby pumpkin pancakes. I love pumpkin so will take advantage of any chance to eat it!
It is a great opportunity to have something pumpkin flavoured. I never thought to combine them before.
Thank you for sharing these. I had a breeze preparing for Halloween because of your tips. Yesterday was a blast and the Halloween pancakes were a huge hit.
I’m so pleased you found the tips useful Clarice. Hope you had a great time.
I got stcuk this Halloween because most of the recipes are high carb and high sugar. I will make adjustments for next year.
Aaahh it’s a shame you didn’t see this sooner. At least next Halloweenis now sorted.
Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s orange all around! Great low sugar recipes. The cobwebby pumpkin pancake really caught my eye. I want to try it. Good stuff on the Halloween cards as well.
The Halloween cards do sound like a great idea and something that would be fun to do yearly.
That is so creative. But honestly, I wouldn’t use spiders because I will be one who will be creeped out the most! haha
Ha, lucky they’re not real. I’m not too keen on spiders either.
I have to admit, we totally skipped Halloween this year. yikes! I didn’t realize it had come around until halfway through the day haha. saving your recipe for next year though as it sounds yum
Ops, well at least you are prepared for next year Bryanna.
Indeed one of the most anticipated celebrations every year not only for children but for Adults too!
I agree with you that sweets are everywhere during this occasion that’s why I also want to share that pumpkin pancakes recipe to my friends. This can be prepared not only during halloween, right? 🙂 anyway, thank you for the recipe.
Of course, these treats can be enjoyed all year around 🙂
Great ideas for Halloween !
I need to get more organised when Halloween comes around – I’m always too late to sort out a decent costume! Next year for sure 🙂
Ha, good luck with that Kacie.