Healthy Halloween Snacks and Costumes with In Home Senior Care | Senior Helpers of Riverside
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Healthy Halloween Snacks and Costumes with In Home Senior Care

Halloween is a wonderful time to really let your creativity shine.  Planning a Halloween party doesn’t have to be too complicated; just a bit of preparation is sure to make your gathering a hit.  First, you must pick a date; decide if you would like to include neighbors, friends and family.  Create a theme to focus your party around.  It can be as simple as a color scheme like orange and black, or it can be based on a spooky movie.  When you have chosen a theme and date that seems to be a good fit; send out an invitation either through the mail or email. 

When sending out the invitation, offer incentive for dressing up.  Adults can be a little hesitant about going in costume, so knowing there will be a prize might encourage the dress-up shy folks.  Decorations based on your chosen theme can be purchased at your local party, Target or Walmart.  It may be helpful to have a few inexpensive masks or props for the guests that are reluctant to wear a costume.

Halloween costumes for seniors don’t have to be intricate to be effective.  There are many ways to help your loved one get into the creative spirit and have some fun.  A quick online search makes creating a costume from items already in the home easy and less of an investment, but still just as much fun.  Some simple last minute costume ideas include using a permanent marker and writing the words “Go Ceiling” so they can ironically cheer on their favorite team and become a “Ceiling Fan”.   A costume that requires even less thought is to carry around an empty frame to become a self-portrait.  Put on a Hawaiian shirt and some leis and your senior can easily become a tourist.

There are many ways our senior loved ones can participate in the dressing up.  There are many Halloween costumes for seniors that are creative and fun.  If your loved one is a fan of entertainment, they might enjoy dressing up like Charlie Chaplin.  This would only involve some menswear that can be found in their own closet or at the local thrift shop.  A suit jacket, vest and slacks that are similar in color would work great.  Draw on dark eyebrows, add a fake mustache, put on the bowler hat, and your senior is good to go!

If a more feminine costume is more appropriate for your senior loved one, perhaps they would enjoy becoming Rosie Riveter.  The “We Can Do It” attitude can be loud and proud with this iconic costume.  Grab a comfortable denim shirt and roll up the sleeves, throw on some jeans and tennis shoes.  Then, simply tie a red polka-dot bandana as a headband, throw on some red lipstick, and your senior loved one is ready to go!

Initially, it may sound unappealing to switch out traditional snacks for healthy holiday treats.  With just a little bit of research, there are many ways to substitute unhealthy ingredients in subtle ways that will still be tasty and better overall.  It’s important to remember that no matter how healthy a treat is, portion control is still key to combatting the festive feast weight gain.

Caramel apples are a traditional treat during fall at Halloween.  Instead of the sticky covering, try substituting dark chocolate which is rich in antioxidants.  Foods high in antioxidants can help to prevent heart attacks and stroke.  After dipping in melted dark chocolate chips, add some yummy decorations such as crushed nuts.

There’s no reason to believe that a healthy holiday treat will be tasteless or boring.  There are many ways to make a traditional holiday treat better for you.  You could substitute unrefined whole wheat pastry flour, natural sweeteners, and nutrient-packed ingredients such as heart-healthy nuts, dried fruits and 60 percent dark chocolate to your tasty holiday treats.   Many recipes allow for a substitution of olive or canola oil in place of fatty butter. 

If you would like to learn more about caring and consistent in home care for seniors, along with the many benefits of professional live in care for the elderly, or dementia and Alzheimer’s care, call Senior Helpers of Riverside to speak to a senior care specialist today 951-248-0543!   The compassionate senior care specialists at Senior Helpers can also guide you through the process of receiving the Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance Benefit if your elderly loved one is a veteran.   In home senior care allows your loved one to stay in the comforts of their own home for as long as possible while receiving the level of care they need. Senior Helpers of Riverside provides a wide range of services including Alzheimer’s and dementia care, personal assistance, companionship, and so much more to all areas of Riverside, Moreno Valley, Hemet, San Jacinto, Yucaipa,Calimesa, Beaumont.