Healthy Halloween: Tips for managing candy for families.
Every year kids get so excited to pick out their costumes and get out to collect that Halloween candy. Parents cringe at the thought of their children binging on candy for days. Use Halloween as a learning opportunity for children to manage their candy stash. After arriving home from trick-or-treating let them pick out their favorites and let them eat what they would like. Then have them put it away and keep it to 1 to 2 pieces at meals and or snack times the days following Halloween. This teaches kids that’s it ok to have some sweet treats, but not to go crazy every day. Usually within 1 to 2 weeks children forget that they even have the candy still, or have eaten all their favorites. At your home, try handing out alternative treats: stickers, temporary tattoos, pencils, popcorn, fruit cups etc. Halloween is only 1 day each year, have fun, eat candy, and enjoy the time with your family.