Just Let Them Eat Candy!

When you see pirates and fairies and ghosts and goblins roam the streets on All Hallows’ Eve filling their bags with sweets and treats, you know it’s Halloween. This is the peak time when parents have the dreaded task of wondering how to handle their child’s sugar overload. Frantically, they ask, “What should I do?”

Each year, my child seems to bring home more candy than the last. Kidshealth.org surveyed 1,200 boys and girls about their Halloween loot. The survey stated that most kids say they receive at least 50 pieces of candy, with more than 44 percent saying they receive more than 100 pieces. Only about 20 percent of children say they eat all their Halloween candy. Whether they eat all or just some of their candy, it takes most kids a long time to get through their stash.

Moms and Dads employ a variety of techniques to limit the Halloween candy onslaught. Some limit the amount eaten on that night and the following nights. Some convince their children to donate their goodies to the dentist for charity or some other reward (this would never fly in my sweet loving home). Some leave sweets out for the “Switch Witch” to take in exchange for a toy (I didn’t even begin to initiate this one because I’m still working on how to reconcile the truth about Santa and the Easter Bunny).

[tweetthis]There is no simple or right way to approach the Halloween candy dilemma.[/tweetthis]

I’m happy to share some strategies that have worked quite well in my home.

1. Let them eat the candy: Yes, a health coach is suggesting that parents allow their kids to indulge themselves. To be specific, let them eat some candy while they’re trick-or-treating or when they get home. The nice thing about today’s treats is that they are bite-sized. If houses give out full-sized bars, kids may take about 5-6 bites before their tummy tells them, “Whoa, I’m not feeling so great.” Kids need to figure out their ‘full’ signals. Depriving them of their sweet rewards will only create a candy-craving monster. If they do get sick, they will certainly remember it next year.
2. Be the “candy cop”: If your children are too young (under 6-years-old), go through their candy bag when they go to bed and throw out the treats you know they will never eat. You know what your child likes, so just get rid of the rest and that way, it’s not an issue. With older kids, this just won’t fly.
3. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind: Put the candy in a basket and then up on a shelf. This strategy works amazingly well even as my son has gotten older. He can have a piece for dessert on the weekends and all he has to do is ask. The asking will wane within a week, I assure you. Our general policy is no dessert during the week so this just fits in with what we already do. Amazingly, when I pull the basket off the shelf to refill it with this year’s selections, there is still candy from last year. Last year’s candy gets tossed-out before the new sweets are added.
4. Set limits on your own consumption: Kids will model your behavior. Digging through your child’s stash for your 12^th Reese’s cup sends a clear message that they can do it as well.
5. Fill-er-up! Serve a healthy and filling dinner. Balance the meal with protein and fats as these will keep you and your children satiated and full. Too many carbs will just trigger sugar cravings.

Halloween is all about being someone you’re not and getting treats in the process. Make it fun and talk to your kids before going out so that everyone understands what the family policy is on consuming candy. Let them know that every family is different and this is how you do it in your family. When you involve your children in the process, they will feel included and will be more willing to cooperate.