Halloween needs to go back to the good old days, writes EMMA CONNOLLY

HALLOWEEN has turned from a night of traditions, games and some trick or treating, into an evening where kids collect as many sweets as possible.

That’s according to former Ballymaloe chef Gillian Hegarty and registered dietitian Melissa Byrne, who set up The Kids Food Revolution. 

The Clonakilty-based initiative brings together schools, businesses, sports clubs and other groups with the common goal of improving kids health through the food environment, and have stopped routinely handing out sweets to kids,.

The mums were motivated to launch the campaign, endorsed by Darina Allen, because they were so concerned by the volume of high sugar, high fat, ultra-processed foods that their children were exposed to outside the home. 

And they’re bringing their common sense approach to Halloween and urging others to mix things up a little this year – and still have just as much fun. 

‘I have such fond memories of celebrating Halloween as a child, celebrating the change of the season by making decorations, taking inspiration from the beautiful colours in nature, crunching on crispy leaves, finding conkers and helicopters, carving pumpkins and playing fun games with my family,’ remembers Gillian. 

‘We dressed up as either ghosts or witches, depending on whether we had a bin bag or a white sheet, and went to granny’s house with our cousins to dunk our head into a plate of flour, searching for a grape. 

‘We didn’t know then, that we were celebrating the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain- the end of the harvest and beginning of the darker half of the year.
At this time, the divide between the living and the supernatural world is most thin, and folks warded off evil spirits with bonfires and dressing up,’ Melissa added. 

Gillian feels that ‘the spirit of Halloween has diminished over the last ten years’. 

‘We now have the luxury of buying costumes because they are widely available and are so affordable. Trick or treating has almost turned into a competition as to how many sweets kids can end up with on Halloween night.’

The pair are at pains to stress they don’t want to reduce any of the seasonal fun – just the volume of sugar and other ingredients that may be harmful. 

‘It is not about banning sweets. The sweets and foods marketed now for Halloween are obviously not health foods – we all know they are not good for us or our kids. 

‘They are fine as an occasional food, like at Hallowe’en, but there is just too much out there now. They are so cheap, and they’re in the shops so early, they seem to be everywhere you turn. It all adds up when really well intentioned well-wishers all give kids a treat- the kids can get sometimes really excessive amounts of these foods, and it’s the sheer volume which is harmful to their health,’
said Melissa. 

Gillian suggests mixing things up a bit next week when trick or treaters call: ‘Why not have a basket of lovely juicy satsumas near the door along with the sweets? Kids pick up on our vibes so if we get excited about them, we pass this onto them. 

‘I teach cookery workshops in schools and I have seen if I pass on my enthusiasm for a certain food or dish, the students can’t wait to taste it and are really open to trying something new because it’s fun and exciting,’ she said. 

‘There are also gorgeous fresh nuts such as hazelnuts and walnuts available this time of year. They are so much fun for kids to crack open and taste totally different straight from the shell as they are super fresh and not dried,’ she added. 

• Geata arts are hosting free mask and costume making workshops every Sunday in October.

The workshops are from 1pm to 4pm in the  hall next to Clonakilty Community college and are part of the Samhain celebration. 

The parade in Clonakilty this year iwill take place on Sunday November 9th. 

HALLOWEEN GAMES

Here are some game ideas that make Halloween night so much fun:

• Bob the apple: fill up a basin with water and add a few apples - there are still lots of crab apples around. Put your hands behind your back and try to snap one up with your mouth only.

• Find the treat: heap a mound of flour on a large plate and hide a few grapes and one sweet in it. The child can try to find a treat while loosely blindfolded.

• Snap apple: players try to bite an apple hanging from a string with their hands behind their back. It can be hung from a banister, doorway, tree etc.

• Mystery box: prepare a small amount of cooked pasta, egg shells, jelly or anything that will feel horrible in a bowl and place inside a box. Kids have to put their hands in and try and guess
what it is.

• Scavenger hunt: hide Halloween themed items around the house or garden. Give each team clues along the way or a list of things to find.

• Pumpkin bowling: stack up toilet rolls and use small pumpkins as bowling balls.

• Halloween themed Charades: act out Halloween themes or characters from movies

• Pass the pumpkin: pass a carved pumpkin around while music is playing, when the music stops whoever is holding it gets a treat from inside the pumpkin.

•Halloween themed Simon says: give spooky instructions.