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For the past few years, I’ve been trying to feature healthier Halloween treats, and I’m happy to continue the tradition this year. I had two brands reach out to me this Halloween, and I’m happy to report that they are both quite tasty alternatives to candy with no redeeming nutritional value. (I’m not going to say they’re necessarily healthy, because everyone has their own definition of that, but they are much better choices that chocolate bars and other sugary snacks.)
Pirate’s Booty
This is the part where I confess that I had never tried Pirate’s Booty until now. It always looked interesting to me, but I never actually picked it up at the store. So when the nice folks who represent the brand sent me a special Halloween 20-pack of half-ounce, 65-calorie bags of Pirate’s Booty Aged White Cheddar, I took the plunge. It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten any sort of cheese puff snack, having grown out of that part of my life where artificial orange cheese powder didn’t disgust me, and I really enjoyed these crispy little puffs. I can pronounce all of the ingredients (corn meal, rice, oil, aged cheddar cheese, and black pepper), and 65 calories is a far cry from the 200-calorie candy bars that might otherwise call my name. Pirate’s Booty is also safer for all of your little trick-or-treaters, as it’s gluten-free, trans fat-free, and is manufactured in a facility that is free of peanuts and tree nuts. (Dairy allergies, sadly, would be an issue.)
The folks from Pirate’s Booty sent me this snippet to share with you, which I forgot about until after I’d typed up my own little review:
Parents can swap sugar-laden candy treats for Pirate’s Booty, a deliciously baked, all-natural snack that kids love and moms can feel good about adding to the Halloween treat bowl! Pirate’s Booty has less fat and fewer calories than traditional Halloween candy and zero grams of sugar. Also, Pirate’s Booty is gluten, peanut and tree-nut free, so it’s safe for trick-or-treaters or classmates with these common food allergies. Pirate’s Booty is made without trans-fats and ingredients you can’t pronounce. Plus, the Pirate is already dressed for the occasion!
This year, it will be easier than ever to pass out Pirate’s Booty, as Target and Super Target stores across the country will be offering special Halloween 20-packs of half-ounce, 65-calorie bags of Pirate’s Booty Aged White Cheddar. The Halloween 20-packs of Pirate’s Booty will be available from mid-September through October.
Milk Unleashed
Did you know that chocolate milk is the official beverage of Halloween? Neither did I. The folks from Milk Unleashed provided me with quite an assortment of shelf stable flavored milk cartons. Most kids don’t get enough calcium in their diet, and it can be tricky to get them to drink milk. (I do not have this problem with TJ, however, as we have to limit the amount of milk he drinks to prevent digestive upsets!) Flavored milk can help kids enjoy drinking milk, with all of the same nutrients as white milk and just a little added sugar. And shelf-stable cartons can help you keep milk on hand without worrying about it going bad in the fridge if it doesn’t get consumed right away. These cartons can be stored in the pantry and tossed in the fridge or freezer for better drinking temperature, perhaps inside of a lunchbox. (Or on the road during the thirsty business of trick-or-treating!)
The samples we got to try included vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry milk from TruMoo, Hershey’s, Organic Valley, and Cow Wow, though Tetra Pak also packages other brands of self-stable milk. TJ was “over the moon” with the selection, and I think most trick-or-treaters would be just as thrilled to add a carton to their plastic pumpkin buckets.
That’s me: Christina Gleason. I’m a writer, editor, and disability advocate. I'm a multiply disabled autistic lady doing my best in this world built for abled people. I’m a geek for grammar, fantasy, and casual gaming. I hate vegetables. I cannot reliably speak, so I’ll happily conduct business over email or messaging instead.
