A Ghoulishly Gluten-Free Halloween!

Halloween can be a difficult holiday to navigate for a gluten-free child. Here are some tips for easy, gluten-free trick-or-treating.

1. Organize a gluten-free party for kids

At a party, you can control the treats and goodies, making sure they are gluten-free. Offer a few healthy snacks for a pre or post trick-or-treat get together. Here are some gluten-free, kid-friendly favorites:

1. Granny Smith apple slices with low-fat caramel dip
   
2. Hot chocolate made with low-fat milk
   
3. Gluten-free Chex Mix® or trail mix
   
4. Vanilla pudding mixed with a few dollops of pumpkin puree and a pinch of cinnamon
   

2. Plan ahead for trick-or-treating

Most kids like to snack along the way as they trick-or-treat. Send them off with a small bag of their favorite gluten-free candies to prevent them from reaching into their treat bag. Be sure to tell them that all candy collected throughout the night should be kept safely in their bag until a parent can check it at home.

3. Trade it up

Purchase some gluten-free candy prior to Halloween night. Once trick-or-treating is done, let kids trade the collected candy for gluten-free.

4. Read all labels

It is important to read all labels before allowing your kids to dig into their candy bag since many of the "mini versions" of Halloween candy are made with different ingredients than the larger versions. Here’s a list of some of the most popular gluten-free candies:

For additional treat ideas, check out www.celiaccentral.org for their gluten-free snack and candy list. Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!