Comments on: Tips for a Better, Healthier Halloween

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:38:58 +0000

Hi Jessica -

I recommend Rapunzel and Askinosie chocolate - both of which are fair trade and lecithin-free. Excellent, high quality chocolate. And something I should indulge in less often.

Take Care -

Jenny

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:30:28 +0000

Thank you, what a great post for parents! I love all the ideas. My only question is: where do you find soy lecithin-free chocolate? Even in the organic and fair trade varieties it is in there…not sure what other emulsifier can be used. Do you have any resources for soy-free chocolate and treats?

Thanks again!

By: Elspeth

Elspeth — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:55:19 +0000

Hi Jenny,

Thanks so much for your response! Indeed there are several pronunciations of Samhain depending on if you are saying it with an Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Old Irish or one of several other dialects. And yes, Samhain is a modern neo-Celtic holiday and is also the Scottish name for November. It was and is also a holiday celebrating the harvest, the dark half of the year, and the deceased. Your wonderful blog celebrates harvests too. Perfect. :]

In medieval Ireland Samhain was also a new year celebration. So no, not a link to Halloween necessarily, and celebrated in modern times still as a holiday of the coming dark half of the year, harvest festival, and honoring those who have passed similar to The Day of the Dead commonly celebrated on November first.

Samhain is a fantastic day, for religious, historical, and just for plain fun. I’m so glad you mentioned it.

Wikipedia of course has some great information on it if anyone wishes to do their own research.

Love your blog and so glad to see healthy options presented in such a well written way.

Keep up the great work!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:14:44 +0000

Hi Elspeth -

I am aware of the proper pronunciation of the holiday Samhain - which is to say "SAH - vwin" not "SOW-en" nor "SAM-HANE." Moreover, Samhain is doesn't truly refer to Halloween as a religious holiday except among modern, neo-Pagans. Samhain refers to the month of November in Gaelic, not the cross-quarter that is October 31st which is called Oidhche Shamhna in Gaelic.

Thanks for reading!

- Jenny

By: Elspeth

Elspeth — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:24:13 +0000

I love your ideas! And while I enjoy the idea of a Halloween fairy I do have to mention that the holiday of Samhain is a religious one and is pronounced SOW-en. Using the holiday to name a fairy isn’t a terrible thing, but please at least mention that the actual holiday has a much different pronunciation.

By: Raine Saunders

Raine Saunders — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:36:13 +0000

There is a solution to unhealthy, not-sustainable produced chocolate all parents can feel good about – Xocai! I am an independent distributor of this amazing chocolate and everyone in our house eats this chocolate every day. This is the world’s only cold-pressed chocolate, is NOT candy, and is a superfood. It contains some of the highest levels of flavonoids and antioxidants of any food available. It’s the best tasting chocolate I have ever eaten. It is sustainable produced on small family farms with fair wages off the Ivory Coast, so you your social conscience can be satisfied. And, it is with a patented process that no other chocolate company can offer which preserves all the health benefits of chocolate. If anyone is interested, please contact me. This is a wonderful alternative to commercially-produced chocolate and is actually healthy to eat. It has been endorsed by various professionals in medical and health communities – both mainstream and alternative. Just a few pieces a day can satisfy even the most voracious chocolate tooth!

By: Cara

Cara — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:12:43 +0000

Great post! It is hard to find a way to celebrate Halloween without going overboard with candy and other “junk”. We’re taking it easy this year. Thanks for linking to my Jack O Lantern fruit cups! They are a cute (and healthier) festive snack!

By: Alecia

Alecia — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:40:14 +0000

“What mom wants her house TPed because she was the only scrooge on the block not to offer treats to assuage tricksters?” My mom was a diabetic and was very passionate about sugar “being poison in your body”, her personal mantra. She used to give out crayons, raisins or pencils with fun-shaped erasers to trick-or-treaters when I was a kid. At the time I was mortified to be from “that house”. Now that I’m older I think it was pretty forward thinking of her to not pass out candy and at least try to give out an alternative to all the sugar and chemicals. Plus, it deterred the kids that were way too old to be out. They didn’t want any crayons.

By: Jo

Jo — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:16:16 +0000

Very good ideas. It is difficult to find a balance between too much and too little and you offer some good compromises! I especially like the “Sam Hain” idea!

By: Clarissa K

Clarissa K — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:24:02 +0000

Fabulous ideas!! We are a little behind on Halloween prep this year, but I am totally reconsidering what I want to do in the future. I had a Halloween party one year with family which was very memorable (I lived in England then and Trick or Treating isn’t done very much). It was great fun and was much more “traditional” to me than asking strangers for chemical-laden candy.

This year we decorated the porch with mini-pumpkins that we grew and the leftover cornstalks from our garden. We don’t go all crazy like some people do with their giant inflatable yard-grossness, but I love to use lights, candles, and retro window decor. More than that is just garish, not ghoulish.

We are giving out some (storebought) fruit leather strips that are all natural. If kids don’t like them, oh well! I’m sure parents will see the benefit of them and they will probably end up in lunchbags next week.

I am absolutely going to make something festive to eat like pumpkin custard tonight now, so thanks for that idea. And as my son’s school does NOT do much in the way of seasonal art, I am thinking of a craft we can do after school today. You have truly put me in the mood to create new traditions!

By: Joann

Joann — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:05:32 +0000

Love the “candy fairy” and the tips for becoming more socially aware.

I just posted a quote today that I heard Udo Erasmus (Udo’s oils) say on the radio about how uninspired people make bad stuff just to make money. He called for “inspired” people to make (and educate others about) the stuff that really makes a difference.

By: Erin

Erin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:46:49 +0000

Great ideas! Thank you!
Ca you point me in he direction of a reipe for yogurt Taffy!? That sounds amazinG!