Fall means cooler temperatures and less desire to be out and about, so it’s a great time to have a nice little party with your closest friends or family and treat them to seasonal-themed treats. Who doesn’t like trying different desserts while nice and warm at home? Here are some tips and tricks for setting up the perfect autumn party!

Do something truly autumn-inspired for your guests! Make the theme of the table decor all about the season by celebrating the harvest. Use orange and brown and other rich hues of the season. Put down a fabric napkin with flower ties. You can even add some acorns to raise the spirit of the gathering. Your guests will be treated not only with delicious food but also with the perfect decorations to complement everything.

Don’t stop at decorating the table. Add some color to your home with seasonal decorations. Grab a tiny pumpkin or two, buy some seasonal flowers from the shop, and if you really want to get deep into the whole autumn season vibe, get a rustic tray and add it to the decor. Spice up the place for the party.

Autumn-inspired food is fun all on its own, but what if you make everything bite-sized? That would be so much better and easier for consumption, too!

Spoon some apple pie into small bowls and top it off with crumbled oatmeal cookies, or even make some pumpkin-spice cereal rice treats! Make everything into tiny portions so your guests can have fun while enjoying the delicious goodies.

Parfaits are easy, and pumpkin spice parfaits both look and taste lovely. Add some vanilla pudding, use some pumpkin pie filling, and top with crumbled cookies. Arrange in a beautiful cocktail glass, and let your guests enjoy it!

You can also serve extra-special pumpkin pie by cutting some dough into leaf shapes and placing it on top of the pie. That way your pie isn’t just a tasty treat, but doubles as a decoration. No one can resist a tasty pumpkin pie in the fall.

A recent survey has demonstrated the exacerbation of unhealthy eating habits among young Americans. More than 18,000 children took part in the survey, with parents answering questions about their kids’ eating habits. The result was baffling – more and more children between 1 and 5 are excessively consuming sugary drinks. Another shocking tendency is that fewer and fewer children eat enough greens.

The First State-Wide Survey of Its Kind

The first state-wide survey of its kind revealed some unpleasant truths. Namely, our children are increasingly consuming unhealthy foods while ditching healthy alternatives to the curb. Senior author of the study Heather Hamner said it’s important to think about similar incentives to help the community identify detrimental patterns and improve the nutritional environment throughout the country.

The research revealed that almost ½ of all children didn’t eat any greens per day. In Louisiana, the number rose to 64%, with only 36% of all kids eating a veggie every day. In addition, close to a third of the interviewed children didn’t eat fruits daily.

Greens Are Being Replaced

So, what replaces greens in kids’ diets across the country? Like it or not, it’s none other than sugary drinks. Almost 57% of all children who participated in the study consumed at least one soft drink each day. Moreover, researchers determined that the youngest children in the test group were most likely to consume veggies and fruits every day.

Of course, these eating habits are far from healthy. After all, a diet filled with greens, even frozen ones, can incredibly boost a kid’s physical and mental development. According to modern-day nutritional guidelines for children, toddlers must consume an average of one cup of fruits and veggies per day. Young children aged up to 8 should eat at least 1.5 cups of fresh or frozen green vegetables and fruits per day.

The authors of the study didn’t neglect to stress the importance of building healthy dietary habits from an early age. After all, people acquire many of their adult behavioral patterns in early childhood. So it’s important to unite and create a healthier dietary pattern for every child in the states.