Feeding kids on Halloween to Avoid a Sugar Crash

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Feeding your kids a healthy meal on Halloween night may not be the first thing on your mind. But it should be high up on the check list for a successful Halloween. Fueling their bodies with some high quality food before they dash out for a long night of trick-or-treating may prevent a sugar crash!

A blood sugar crash is a result of eating too much simple carbohydrates – in this case Halloween candies. When the body gets a flood of sugar, it triggers the active production of insulin which is the hormone that regulates blood sugar. This may cause the blood glucose to decrease suddenly, resulting in a drop in energy level, also known as hypoglycemia. Some of the common symptoms are irritability, fatigue, anxiety, headaches, excess sweating, jitters, shakiness and dizziness.

Although the response to a sugar rush is very individual but why take a chance on Halloween night when kids are out on the busy streets in the dark.

Frozen pizzas, mac & cheese packages, and the like may seem like a quick solution for feeding your kids when you are busy. Surprisingly, in the time it takes to preheat you oven or boil water for packaged food, you can whip up a nutritious kid-friendly meal without preservatives, food-coloring, and added chemicals. The recipe below, Easy Pumpkin Mac & Cheese is easy (of course), fun, nutrient-packed, and only takes 20 minutes to make. Pumpkin is a very nutrient-rich ingredient – high in vitamin A, C, and fiber. If you want to boost the antioxidants even more – without doing more work – just add your kids’ favorite vegetables (chopped broccoli is my kid’s choice) to the pasta cooking water in the last minute of the cooking time. For more healthy food and cooking tips, check out my Instagram feed. Happy Halloween!

Homemade Mac & Cheese with Broccoli

Easy Pumpkin Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

  • 8 oz dried pasta
  • 1 Tbs butter
  • 1 Tbs flour
  • 1 cup lowfat 2% milk
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1/2 tsp granulated garlic
  • 1/2 tsp granulated onion
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

Directions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  2. Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until it forms a paste, then slowly add the milk while whisking constantly. Cook 1-2 minutes until it comes to a simmer. 
  3. Stir in the pumpkin, cheese and spices then continue to cook over medium low, whisking often. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Once pasta is done, strain and transfer to the warm cheese sauce. Stir until completely coated.

Makes 6 servings

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving: Calories 248; Protein 10g; Total Fat 7.9g Saturated Fat 4.3g Trans Fat 0.0g; Total Carbohydrates 34g Dietary Fiber 2g  

5 Ways to Support the Fight to Cure Cancer

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A guest article by Scott Sanders, https://cancerwell.org

Countless doctors and scientists work tirelessly to make progress in the field of cancer research and bring us closer to a cure. But you do not have to be a medical professional to contribute to the fight against cancer. Maybe you’re interested in supporting cancer research because you or a loved one has received a cancer diagnosis. From learning more about holistic health through blogs like Healthydigz to volunteering with a nonprofit, you can find a way to get involved. Here are a few ways that anyone can help support those working to cure cancer.

Participate in Clinical Trials

You don’t need to have any special medical expertise to participate in a clinical trial! Clinical trials for cancer research and other medical advances are happening all of the time. This is how the medical community identifies safe new treatments that can be effective against different conditions. If you have a cancer diagnosis, you may be a good candidate for certain trials. Some trials may even need participants who don’t have cancer to form a control group.

How can you get accepted to a clinical trial? The trials you are eligible for will depend on your specific health conditions. For instance, if you have leukemia or lymphoma, you can search for appropriate trials through a platform that matches patients with trial opportunities. You may be able to take part in trials for biologic treatments, new approaches to chemotherapy, or even stem cell transplant research,

Be a Volunteer

Volunteering with an existing nonprofit can be a great way to lend your talents to those who are working to identify new cancer treatments and help cancer patients who need lots of support. But if you’ve never volunteered before, you might not know where to start! Money Crashers recommends checking out organizations you’ve donated to in the past to see if they have any opportunities for volunteers. You can also ask your loved ones for suggestions.

Start Your Own Nonprofit

What if there isn’t a nonprofit in your area that focuses on cancer research or supporting cancer patients? With the right strategy, you could start your own! If you’re interested in this course of action, you should get in touch with other people who work in the nonprofit world and ask for their guidance. You’ll also need to decide how your nonprofit will contribute to cancer research – for instance, you could host fundraisers for direct donations to medical centers. 

Raise Awareness

If you’re a writer or blogger, you could use your talents to draw attention to developments in the world of cancer research. You could share stories about how cancer has affected your own life or the lives of your loved ones. Additionally, you can write about new cancer treatments or interview people who work in the cancer research field.

Pursue a Nursing Career

Maybe you don’t have any formal medical training, but you do feel passionate about finding a cure to cancer, and you’re wondering if you could help cancer patients in your future career path. For example, you may be interested in becoming a nurse. If you’re curious about a nursing career, Nursing License Map recommends exploring what kind of medical environment you’d like to work in, researching which degree you’ll need to earn to get the right qualifications, and looking into which areas you might want to specialize in.

Cancer has touched the lives of many people. But even if you’re not a doctor, you can still lend a hand to those who are battling cancer. With these tips, you’ll find a way to make a difference for those living with cancer.

Looking for healthy lifestyle tips? Check out the informative suggestions on Healthydigz! Read the blog today to learn more about everything from nutritious eating to exercise.