The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

Greet the ghouls at your door with these greener goodies



From The Green Guide Institute
Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Halloween's not the turkey-and-tryptophan blowout Thanksgiving is, nor is it the consumerist apotheosis of Christmas and the other gift-giving holidays. But there's still plenty of unhealthy junk to eat and plenty of brand-name stuff to buy, even if these brands are Snickers, Hershey's, Payday. Here's the Green Guide's guide to a healthier, organic, (mostly) smaller-brand Halloween, with some household snack options tossed in at the end.

Apples

Apples aren't just the fruit of the Fall--they're the fruit of fall, and, with pumpkins, the fruit associated most with Halloween. (Does anyone bob for apples anymore?) Unfortunately, apples are pesticide intensive: among fruit they're second in contamination only to peaches, according to the Environmental Working Group. The average apple contains four pesticides after being washed and cored, but some apples have up to ten; some are carcinogens, can cause birth defects and hormonal changes, and can damage the brain and the immune, reproductive, and nervous systems. Of especial concern is the pesticide Guthion (azinphos-methyl), found in 56 percent of Washington state apples tested in 2000, and damaging to the brain and nervous system. In 2001, the EPA banned the use of Guthion on 28 crops and ordered a four-year phase-out on seven more, but gave apples and seven other crops at least a four-year reprieve. If you only have a limited budget for organics, apples might be the food to spend it on. Or look for the NutriClean label--it certifies low pesticide residue.

Tricks or Treats

The Green Guide provided its first online report on safer, healthier Halloween treats in the fall of 2002. Upon review, we found there are now more organic goodies for the goblins who come to your door, as listed here:

Chocolate: While it's hard for organic-buyers to find the kind of tiny candy bars sold everywhere for Halloween, you can splurge on full-sized bars. Green & Black's sells 20-gram bars in many flavors, including milk, dark, and white chocolate. Available at www.goodnessdirect.co.uk

Caramels: Madb's Delights, www.madbsdelights.com, offers diabetic-friendly, individually wrapped, organic caramels, sold by the pound.

Lollipops: Gold Mine Natural Food Company, www.goldminenaturalfood.com, sells various sized packs of organic lollipops, in flavors that include cherry, lemon, orange, raspberry, and strawberry.

Mints: St. Claire's makes organic mints (as well as organic licorice and cinnamon and ginger snaps): peppermint, wintermint, spearmint. You can buy 1.5-ounce tins in packs of 40 at www.mothernature.com.

Organic Snacks

There are also of plenty of organic choices for snacks around the house.

Chips: You can find many small-brand organics, but it's perhaps of special interest that Frito-Lay now makes organic snacks: "Organic" Tostitos corn chips and salsa, and "Natural" Lay's, Ruffles, and Cheetos (www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/hlth_chips-20.html).

Pretzels: Newman's Own Organics sells organic pretzels in a variety of shapes and flavors: salted, unsalted, and salt-and-pepper rounds; salted and salt-and-pepper sticks; sourdough Bavarian (www.newmansownorganics.com/food_pretzels.html).

Soy nuts: With fewer carbs and more protein than pretzels and chips, organic soy nuts are a great snack. Skeet & Ike's sells various flavors: sea salt, honey dijon, yoghurt & green onion, BBQ. (You can likely find unsalted soy nuts at your supermarket or health food store.) The company also sells organic wasabi peas, dried fruit, and rice and corn snacks (www.skeetike.com).

Nuts: Increasing evidence is pointing to the health value of nuts: their protein is good, and their monounsatured fat is good too, helping raise good cholesterol and lower bad. Avian Naturals sells unsalted organic mixed nuts, with or without peanuts. See www.aviannaturals.com/nuts.html

Snack bars: Betty Lou's sells organic, vegan, corn-, wheat-, and soy-free granola and fruit bars. See www.bettylousinc.com/store. Flavors include apricot, blueberry, apple current, and strawberry; the granola bar has a sesame flavor.

Dried fruit: Earthbound Farm sells organic raisins and dried plums in canister and, for raisins, snack boxes. Visit www.ebfarm.com/produce_driedfruit.html

By Sam Frank


For more information, contact:

Paul McRandle
Senior Research Editor
The Green Guide Institute
pmcrandle@thegreenguide.com


Web site:

www.thegreenguide.com