Schar Gluten Free

Halloween is such fun we though we would send along a special Halloween e-newsletter. We included all the usual "treats" such as party ideas, a gluten free candy list, as well as some festive recipe ideas.

Trick or treating is easy gluten-free. There are many main stream candies that are naturally gluten-free (see list below). What can be trickier are the parties and gatherings around Halloween. Here are a few suggestions to help make the day filled with fun not worry:

Make sure your trick or treat-er has a good meal before setting off. They are bound to be excited and not want to sit down – so tempt them with something fun and nutritious. What about chicken nuggets in the shape of pumpkins, or gluten free spaghetti with meatballs? Their tummies will be full so they won’t be as tempted to fill up on treats while they are out. If they are just too excited to sit down and eat on the go type of meals may be the answer. Try cheese and apple slices, carrots and hummus, or deli meat and cheese roll ups. Even a gluten free peanut butter sandwich is a healthy meal for any ghost or goblin that can't wait to trick or treat. Make sure to review the list of safe candies you're your trick or treat-er before they leave home. If a Halloween party is on the agenda then call the host ahead of time to find out if a meal or snacks are being served. Offer to provide part of the meal or snacks – this ensures that there will be gluten-free options for your child. Offer to host the party! This will enable you to provide a completely gluten-free party that will be fun, delicious and no one will know the difference.

For classroom parties: The key is to talk to the teacher ahead of time. Make sure she has a list of safe candies and treats. Offer to provide a hypoallergenic snack for all such as popcorn balls, baked apples – or even fresh ones! There are many non food related Halloween activities that the class can enjoy: Carving or decorating pumpkins, scavenger hunts, Halloween related books and stories, create a Halloween play, research how pumpkins became a symbol of fall, investigate native foods and their growing cycle. Encourage the teacher to take on a neighborhood project – collect canned goods for a homeless shelter, collecting monies for UNICEF or other local charities. For treats think outside the candy aisle. There are lots of goodies that are non food related. The offerings can be adapted to the age of the children. Treats can be; Halloween pencils or pens, stickers, small Halloween pumpkins and figurines, glow sticks, pen flashlights, even coins for UNICEF. Here is a quick list of safe gluten-free candies. It is important to remember Halloween is also about dressing up, carving pumpkins, and getting friends together. Emphasize the nonfood aspects of the day. Please note that the candies listed below are gluten-free to the best of our knowledge. We cannot guarantee that they are gluten-free nor do we know what measures are taken by the manufacturers to avoid cross contamination. Chocolates M&M's Milky Way DARK ONLY 3 Musketeers Baby Ruth Butterfinger Chunky Dove Hershey's Kisses Hershey's bar – plain, almond Junior Mints Mounds Oh Henry Payday Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Miniatures, Pumpkins Snickers Non Chocolate treats Brach's Candy Corn, Autumn Mix, and Pumpkins Pez Pixie Sticks Nerds Sweet tarts Tic Tacs Spree Starbursts Jolly Ranchers Tootsie rolls and pops Laffy Taffy Lifesavers Lifesavers gummies Fun dip Peeps Marshmallow Treats – (not cookie flavor) Most gums Haribro gummy treats Sour Patch Kids Ring Pops Skittles Sugar Babies Mary Jane's Charleston Chews HALLOWEEN RECIPE Pumpkin Shaped Chicken (or fish) Nuggets Chicken breast (or flounder cut into pumpkin shape with a cookie cutter) 1 cup Schar gluten free breadcrumbs 1 cup crushed potato chips ½ tsp Pepper ½ tsp Garlic salt ½ tsp Oregano, crushed 1 Egg, beaten Heat oven to 400. Lightly coat the bottom of a baking pan with oil. Mix together the dry ingredients. Beat the egg. Cut the chicken or fish into desired size and/or shapes. Dip the chicken or fish into the egg then into the coating mixture. Place the chicken or fish in the pan. Repeat until all chicken is coated. Bake for 20 – 30 minutes depending on the size and thickness of the pieces.