Happy Halloween: Tips for a less Freaky Friday

The spookiest time of year is here! For parents taking their kids out trick or treating, here are some great tips from the Department of Health and Human Services CDC on help keeping everyone safe:

S Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
A Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
F Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
E Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.

H Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you.
A Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent skin and eye irritation.
L Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
L Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
O Only walk on sidewalks or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
W Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
E Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats unless you know the cook well.
E Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult. Otherwise, stay outside.
N Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

Trick or Treat: Healthy Halloween Recipes

Halloween is a scarier time for some more than for others. Not only does one worry about devilish ghosts haunting their presence or pranksters causing trouble, but with all the high fructose corn syrupy treats surrounding them, moms are also plagued with the concern of extra fat and calories entering their kids' diet.

But with a little planning ahead of time, moms can make sure that their kids get plenty of treats without compromising the spirit of the holiday. Some great Halloween recipes include:

• Witches Teeth
• Ants On A Log
• Gluten-Free Animal Cookies
• Night Crawlers
• Ants On A Log
• Vampire's Blood Shake

She's Crafty: Creative Homemade Halloween Costumes

Let's face it, Halloween is as much about the costumes as it is about the candies. But who wants to be the same old boring witch year after year? Part of the fun of Halloween is coming up with a creative costume, either store bought or homemade. For all you with a knack for sewing, gluing, or taping, here are some interesting ideas for a Halloween costume (for your kids...or you!):

• Costumes made entirely of cardboard boxes (chances are, you'll have a one of a kind costume!)
  
• Colonel Sanders and a Bucket of Chicken (a costume for both parents and kids)
  
• A Sandwich (why not?)
  
• Costumes that do not require sewing
• And last but not least, fast and simple outfits for last-minute costumes!

How to Green Your Kids' Halloween

Halloween has always been a night of conspicuous consumption- from over the top party props to excessive high fructose corn syrup treats. But there are tips for moms to easily green their kids' Halloween.

Some tips for an overall healthier, earth-friendlier Halloween include: serving healthier treats instead of traditional candy, using email to invite parties rather than snail mail, replacing inefficient bulbs with fluorescent or LED bulbs, choosing a reusable canvas bag over a plastic bag... For more information on how to add green to your night of black and orange, check out Green Halloween !

Let's Get Physical: Moderate Physical Activity Encouraged During Pregnancy

Moms-to-be have long been discouraged from exercise to avoid harm to the fetus. It used to be thought that exercise during pregnancy contributed to low birth weight, premature birth, and even miscarriage. Researchers, however, are now finding that moderate physical activity may actually reduce the risk of birth complications.

Studies show that expectant moms who get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week may prevent gestational diabetes, relieve stress, and build enough stamina needed for labor and delivery. For more information on exercise routines during and after pregnancy, a complete copy of the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is available for moms to download here.

Doubling Up on Vitamin D, Makes You Strong and Healthy

There has been growing concern among pediatricians that newborns to teens are not getting enough vitamin D, which has proven to help prevent serious diseases. Vitamin D intake has shown to not only promotes calcium absorption and bone health but also stave off diseases playing a critical role in the prevention of diabetes, multiple sclerosis and certain cancers.

While vitamin D is found in everyday things such as common foods like fortified milk, orange juice, fatty fish, and even sunlight, doctors know these means of intake is not always the most convenient. They recommend a daily kids' multivitamin in a minimum dose of 400 IU per day for infants, children and teens (twice the amount once suggested). Doctors hope the vitamin D increase will cut any deficiency risks due to malnutrition. Give them more D- to keep them healthy!

How Your School Measures Up: America's Healthiest Schools

Fall's back and that means back to school for the kids. But bad health habits can easily be developed during your child's time in school- and away from your sight. Recognizing the benefits of a healthy head start, many schools have taken an initiative of coming up with programs such as healthy meal replacements, fitness routines, and all around nutritional education. Health Magazine tallied up our nation's healthist schools and below are some of the results:

• West Babylon Senior High School (West Babylon, New York)
  
• Amory Middle (Amory, Mississippi)
• Rawhide Elementary (Gillette, Wyoming)
• Anthony Elementary (Leavenworth, Kansas)
• Richmond Elementary (Appleton, Wisconsin)
• Mountain Valley Middle (Mexico, Maine)
• Miami Springs Middle (Miami Springs, Florida)
• Lakewood Elementary (Cecilia, Kentucky)
• W.C. Britt Elementary (Snellville, Georgia)
• South Elementary (Pinson, Tennessee)

Congrats to the top-10 schools on passing the rigorous criteria and framework!

Pregnant Bellies Rejoice: Honeydew Skin Care Available at Nordstrom.com

Pregnant women everywhere can now rejoice as Nordstrom sets to offer two of Honeydew Skin Care’s pregnancy products to its online customers. Available online at Nordstrom.com, Honeydew Skin Care’s line promises to bring great expectations to pregnant women’s nine month stretch!

Balmy Mommy, a soothing belly balm that uses natural botanicals to soothe itchy bellies, and Bun in the Oven , a super-rich belly butter that moisturizes, soothes and guards against stretch marks, will both be available at Nordstrom.com starting in October 2008.

Nordstrom’s interest in green products coincides with Honeydew Skin Care’s line which focuses on all natural ingredients while meeting the special challenges of pregnancy skin. Honeydew Skin Care’s line is free of parabens, petrolatum, synthetic colors, dyes and fragrances. Moms will love the lightweight feel of the products and take comfort in knowing that the products are all natural. What better way to glow than nine months of pure pampering?

Coming Clean on Antibacterials: The Dangers of Triclosan

New parents and moms-to-be are often germophobes when it comes to cleaning- using unnecessary means to disinfect with antibacterial lotions, soaps, hand gels, and wipes. But reports have shown that Triclosan, an ingredient used widely as an antibiotic and preservative in personal care and cleaning products, may cause more harm than good.

Studies show that the use of Triclosan may act as an endocrine disruptor and mimic the effects of hormones and testosterone. Antibacterials such as Triclosan may also lead to bacterial resistance to antibodies.

The Environmental Protection Agency is still determining whether to regulate antibacterials such as Triclosan, but in the meantime a simple ingredients check is all we need to get the dirt on what we are buying!