We recently showed you our favorite DIY paper masks for Halloween. But what if you have a newborn and don’t want to throw away money for a costume on year zero? Fortunately all you need to celebrate the holiday with your newborn is an old onesie, a scrap of fabric, and some. Check out Rachel Low’s costume templates to turn any onesie into a fun costume. You can even increase the pattern size with your printer and make a matching sweatshirt to wear out trick-or-treating.

Our favorite is the skeleton template, complete with a little heartbeat. Or choose between a jack-o-lantern or ghost for more fun. You can use either a simple thread and needle to sew the pieces on, or, if you’re like most new moms, extremely pressed for time, fabric glue works just as well. And if you have artistic inclinations, you can turn any white onesie into a costume. Imagine drawing a Frankenstein or witch’s face with fabric pens. Don’t stress out this Halloween. Just find 20 minutes to spare and you’re ready to go.

Can a candy bar really be considered healthy? Probably not. But everyone needs a treat now and then. And if you’re going to go down the candy aisle, bear in mind that there is a whole range of candy options from not-so-bad to pure chemical junk. You might as well go for something with minimal junk. Yet when it comes to getting a sugar fix, we don’t always have time to go to the health food store to pick up a favorite like chocolate-covered organic almonds. One company is trying to change all that: Unreal.

Enter Unreal candy, a new company that mimics our favorite treats, such as peanut M&Ms, Milky Way bars, Snickers, or Reese’s peanut butter cups. But these versions are “unjunked,” made without corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial ingredients, GMOs, or preservatives. And on top of all that they have a low glycemic index. Your kids won’t even be able to taste the difference. But what is really revolutionary is Unreal candy will be available in stores nationwide. It’s currently in stores  like CVS, Kroger, Michaels, Ralphs and Staples and will soon be available at Target. That’s 30,000 stores coming soon. Here’s to a slightly healthier Halloween!

Image: Romulo Yanes

Mayor Bloomberg recently announced that he plans on banning super-sized sugary beverages from New York City’s restaurants and food vendors. While it’s not without controversy, we can appreciate measures intended to create a healthier city. Indeed, Bloomberg’s ban on smoking in public places and trans fats from restaurants has set the bar high for many other major cities. The good news is that banning soda doesn’t necessarily mean limiting yourself to H2O for life, although there’s nothing wrong with that. For special treats, there are plenty of homemade sodas that can be made while skipping the sugar and the chemicals. And they’re simple and fun to make, even for kids. Here’s a few recipes to try at home from Cherry-Vanilla to classic Ginger.

Cherry-Vanilla Soda

3 cups 100% unsweetened black cherry juice

1 vanilla bean (about 6 inches long)

Seltzer or soda water

Simmer the black cherry juice and vanilla bean in a medium-size saucepan for 35 to 40 minutes. Chill the remaining syrup in the fridge. Pour 1/4 cup into a tall glass with ice and fill to top with soda water.

Serves 4

Ginger Beer

Two tablespoons ginger

1 lemon

Stevia

Soda Water

Grate the ginger very finely and add to a jar or large glass. Squeeze a lemon on top and let it soak for an hour. Add a few drops of stevia, a natural, pretty harmless sweetener. Add soda water and ice and drink up.

Serves 1

Mashed Berry Bliss

1/2 cup blackberries

1/2 cup raspberries

Stevia

Soda Water

Lightly crush the berries with a fork and put at the bottom of a large pitcher. Fill with soda water and refrigerate for one hour. Add stevia to taste.

Serves 4