Strategies for a Healthier Halloween
If you get nervous every time Halloween rolls around because you're worried about how much candy your kids will eat, you're not alone. In fact, it's a common—and totally valid—concern that many parents share, even if Halloween is meant to be a night of fun. So, how do you set rules and make sure your kids don't overdo it on sugar without spoiling the fun? From designating a "treat time" during the day to repurposing candy into other desserts, here are 20 simple tricks to manage your kids' Halloween candy consumption.
1. Sort the Loot First
As soon as you get home after collecting candy, have your kids dump their loot out and sort through it. Make sure to immediately place any candies that they're allergic to into the "no" pile, then add any other ones they don't like eating to that same pile. Once they organize the stash, it will likely be smaller than what they started with.
2. Encourage Your Kids to Use Smaller Bags
Instead of having your kids grab their pillowcases or a garbage bag to collect candy, encourage them to use smaller bags or purchase dedicated Halloween pouches or buckets for them. This way, they won't end up with a mountain of candy.
3. Allow Kids to Take Only One Candy from Each House
You don't want your kids to have greedy hands when they're going around the neighborhood, so remind them to only take one candy from each house they stop at. This way, they won't collect more than they should, and their respectful behavior will leave plenty of candy for other trick-or-treaters.
4. Set a Limit
Don't create a candy budget right away—let your kids enjoy Halloween night! It's okay for them to munch on as many treats as they want for the first two or three days. But after that, slowly start introducing a limit. For example, maybe they can only have two or three candies per day.
5. Educate Your Kids on the Sugar Content of Their Candies
Sometimes, it helps to show your kids just how much sugar is in the candy they're eating, since they may learn better visually. So, give them a demonstration by using their favorite treats as examples, and use a teaspoon to measure out the amount of sugar in each one. A single fun-size chocolate bar, for one, has around 1.5 tsp (about 6g)!
6. Plan Healthy Meals
Since your kids will be munching on sweets, make sure to plan healthy meals so that they're still getting the nutrition they need to grow. In fact, fix up a filling supper before heading out to collect candy! You tend to crave more food (or in this case, candy) when you're hungry, so give your kids a delicious, healthy dinner even before they step out with their costumes.
7. Create a "Trade" Program
Another trick that might help manage your kids' Halloween candy consumption is to create a "trade" program. For example, if they want a toy, they can have it if they trade you two candies. If they want to watch TV or play video games a little longer, that will be three candies. Remember to set a trade value that's fair for them and you.
8. Designate a "Treat Time" in the Day
Instead of allowing your kids to reach into their stash at any time in the day, try designating a "treat time" slot. For example, you might set it after dinner, so your kids can have two or three candies for dessert.
9. Put the Loot into Containers
Another trick that might help is putting the loot into glass jars or plastic containers. When candy is stored in one big bag, it can look like a huge stash, which may tempt your kids to eat more. Sorting it into smaller portions, on the other hand, creates the illusion of less, which can help your kids pace their consumption.
10. Hide the Loot
The oldest trick in the book is to simply hide the loot. We know—this might not seem like the best hack, and if your kids are already older (four and up), it may even backfire. Instead of hiding the stash, then, try storing it away from immediate sight. When the big bag of candy isn't right where they can easily see and reach, your kids may eat less.
11. Use the Candy to Make Other Treats
Why not use the candy to make other fun treats, like cookies, cupcakes, and brownies? This way, your kids still get to enjoy their sweets, but it'll be portioned out and shared among the family. Plus, who doesn't love a good M&M cookie?
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12. Donate a Portion of the Loot
Remember the "no" pile from when your kids first sorted through their loot? Keep this aside to donate to local food banks, shelters, or programs, so your kids can spread the joy of Halloween to others. You can also donate the excess they can't finish.
13. Make Trail Mix
Another fun way to repurpose your kids' Halloween stash is to make trail mix with it. You can use gummies, Skittles, and M&M's to add to a bowl with healthier choices, like nuts, low-sodium pretzel sticks, and butter-free popcorn. Then voilà—you've created the ultimate movie snack everyone in the family can enjoy.
14. Buyback Programs
Some dental clinics in your area may also have buyback programs to help kids eat less candy. It may help to do some research or ask your family dentist whether they have that option. There could also be other similar programs around your neighborhood during Halloween, so make sure to do a thorough scope!
15. Use Candy as a Reward
You can also try using candy as a reward for healthy behaviors. For example, after biking or walking around the neighborhood, let your kids have a treat or two. If they do their chores or finish their homework on time, allow them another treat.
16. Use the Candy for Lesson Demonstrations
Candy is also great for math lessons, and it can make learning fun! Try using a box of M&M's, Smarties, or jelly beans to help your kids with their homework. Whenever they get a question right, you can reward them with a treat, or they can save their candies to eat after the lesson.
17. Pop Chocolate Bars into the Freezer
Another way to pace consumption is to freeze the chocolate bars in your kids' stashes. Keeping them chilled will help them last longer, which means your kids won't feel the need to munch through all of them too quickly. You can also use these chocolate bars to make other treats, like cookies or popsicles!
18. Candy Fairy
The Candy Fairy (also called the Switch Witch) is also a helpful way to reduce your kids' candy consumption. If you're unfamiliar, the Candy Fairy is similar to the Tooth Fairy, only that they collect candy and swap it for other treats, like toys and other gifts.
19. Give the Candy an Expiration Date
You can also simply give the candy stash an expiration date. For example, if it's not finished two or three weeks after Halloween, the candy needs to go. You can, of course, choose to repurpose them in some way so you're not encouraging food waste, but you don't want your kids to still be snacking on candy every day weeks after Halloween has passed.
20. Relax & Let Your Kids Have Fun!
It might seem stressful when Halloween comes around every year and you're panicked about how much candy your kids will consume, but relax! Halloween is supposed to be a night of fun, and policing your kids on how they should enjoy the holiday will only make them associate negative, unhappy feelings with the day. So relax, let your kids be kids, and as long as you don't freak out by making too many rules and model good behavior for them, your kids will trust you and follow suit.
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