Celebrating Halloween healthfully isn't about giving up all the treats. It's about bringing them into balance, especially since kids often have multiple celebrations: at school, at friends' houses, at after care, and in the community. And then there's trick-or-treating.

There's more to Halloween than candy. There's dressing up, having fun with friends, playing games and doing crafts. With so many celebrations throughout the year, it's important to enjoy each one without going overboard. Below are some ideas to make Halloween healthier:

The Positive Plate Award, created by local dietitians highlights facilities that make healthy eating easy and delicious.

"T.G.I.Friday's - "Right Portion, Right Price Menu" was chosen to receive the Positive Plate Award because it gives multiple opportunities to choose healthy options when dining away from home," according to Charlotte Buchanan, RD, LD. "T.G.I.Friday's saw a need in the restaurant industry to offer more choices for health conscious consumers," reported General Manager Drew Sell. T.G.I.Friday's - "Right Portion, Right Price Menu" allows the consumer to identify menu items that are often smaller than the average restaurant portion. According to the American Dietetic Association's nationwide public opinion survey, Nutrition and You: Trends 2002, two in five respondents report restaurant meals were larger than meals prepared at home.

"The Right Portion, Right Price Menu items are not only available in a specific section but they are also highlighted throughout the menu. This provides a "user friendly" format for the average consumer to make healthier choices," stated Alicia Ramey, another spokesperson. In addition to the Right Portion, Right Price Menu, T.G.I.Friday's also highlights low fat "Better For You" menu options.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Pilot Program provided $6 million for 107 schools to determine the best way to increase fruit (both fresh and dried) and fresh vegetable consumption in both elementary and secondary schools. When 64,000 students U.S. school students had access to free fruits and vegetables throughout the school day, amazing things started to happen. Students....

• Ate more fruits and vegetables
• Ate less high calorie, high fat vending options
• Ate more healthy meals as part of School Lunch Program
• Had better attention spans and were less hungry throughout the day
• Felt better and visited the nurse less often
• Had fewer discipline problems

The pilot program has transformed schools into models of healthy behavior and improved learning

• Team building occured among staff and students, and in some cases parents,
• Barriers were broken since the fruits and vegetables were free and available to ALL students
• Positive interactions and role modeling occured as more student-student and student-teacher interactions were observed.

The Great Plains Nature Center is a joint venture between the United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Services; the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks; and the City of Wichita. The Nature Center is located at 6232 East 29th St., North (Acreage included in Chisholm Creek Park). This 22,000 square foot facility provides residents and visitors with a place to learn about natural resources and interact with the wildlife and habitats of the Great Plains region. Features include the 186-seat Coleman Auditorium equipped for multimedia programs and the 3,400 square foot Koch Habitat Hall with state-of-the-art interpretive exhibits including full scale prairie dioramas, a 2,200 gallon aquarium, children's interactive centers; dramatic, hand-painted murals and computer generated graphics and illustrations.

The Nature Center is linked to 2 1/2 miles of wheelchair accessible nature trails traversing tall grass prairies, wetlands, and riparian woodlands. And has the following features:

• Auditorium (186- seats)
• Classrooms (2)
• Wildlife Observatory
• Aquarium (2,400 gallon)
• Exhibit Hall (3,4000 square feet)
• Gift shop/bookstore
• Offices for nature staff
• Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Regional Office