Staying Sober on Halloween
Halloween is a great time for kids and adults alike to get outside, get active, and have some spooky fun. This holiday can be celebrated sober, although you could not have told me this years ago. I had relied on drinking so much, the small pleasure of life ended up boring me as the years went on and I grew up. One of the best ways we can keep strong in our recovery through holidays is by staying busy and reframing our mindset. By making ourselves get out and explore new experiences sober, we create new neural pathways for these memories that allow recovery to flow easier and easier.
If you’re not drinking this Halloween, here are some ideas of how to celebrate without alcohol:
1. Get outside!
How about going on a bike ride? Trick-or-Treating in your neighborhood if you have kids. Having a campfire with s’mores.
Go to the corn maze. Or pumpkin patch! Do something that’ll get you outside and enjoying the night sky! The possibilities are endless, especially for Fall.
2. Hang inside!
Host a small get-together. Answer the door and hand out candy. Dress up with your friends for the night and host a competition!
If you’re hosting a party at home, just don’t serve any alcohol – instead, offer nonalcoholic drinks and snacks so people can still enjoy themselves without drinking too much.
Set the tone by making spooky snacks & mocktails!
Baked Apple Chips
Simple and good, this is an easy, healthy recipe that is perfect for a snack during a fun Hallow’s Eve get-together.
Ingredients:
- 2 apples
- Cinnamon
Remove apple core. Thinly slice the entire apple. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place apple slices on it. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
Bake at 275 degrees for two hours. At the end of the hour, flip them over once so they bake evenly.
(Recipe from delightedmomma.com)
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
If we love two things, it’s cheese and…
….HALLOWEEN! We love Halloween! And cheese balls.
Ingredients:
16 oz block of cream cheese
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 tbs of white or yellow onion (minced)
2 tbs of salsa
2 tsp of ground cumin
1 tps jalapeno (minced)
Nacho-flavored tortilla chips
With a mixer, blend 16 ounces room-temperature cream cheese with 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar, 3 tablespoons minced onion, 2 tablespoons salsa, 2 teaspoons ground cumin, and 1 teaspoon minced jalapeno. Scoop onto plastic wrap and use the wrap to form the mixture into a 5-inch pumpkin-shaped ball; chill at least 2 hours. To serve, unwrap, roll in crushed nacho-flavored tortilla chips and press a bell pepper stem into the top. (Recipe from Food Network)
Hocus Pocus Punch
A fun non-alcoholic Halloween punch that everyone can enjoy! This mocktail punch is full of cider, orange, and cranberry and tastes delicious!
Ingredients:
- 6 cups apple cider
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 2 (12 ounces) cans of orange seltzer
- ¼ cup maraschino cherry juice
- 2 oranges, sliced
- 2 apples, sliced
- 1/3 cup maraschino cherries
- 1 cup ginger ale or ginger beer
Combine the apple cider, juice, orange seltzer, ginger ale, and maraschino cherry juice in a pitcher or large bowl. Add the cherries, orange slices, and apple slices. Stir and serve! (Recipe from How Sweet Eats)
Halloween is a time for everyone to get friends and have some fun. Any excuse for a good time and break from the every day, we’re in!
Although this article is focused on Halloween specifically, there are plenty of reasons for people in recovery not to drink – whether it’s because they choose not to, or they can’t. One of the best ways to live a sober lifestyle is by not drawing attention to the fact you’re not drinking. Instead of dwelling on the drink or craving, focus on staying busy creating new memories and making other fun discoveries.
Halloween can be a great time for everyone to get out and enjoy themselves without alcohol – so don’t let it be your excuse! Go trick-or-treating or go on a bike ride and enjoy the night sky. Celebrate Halloween sober and let us know about it in the comments below!
Have a great and spooky Halloween everyone, stay safe!
