Top 7 ways to make Halloween (at least, a bit) healthier for your kids
Halloween is as much about the chocolate goodies as it is about the scary costumes — so trying to help your kids stay on the right track when it comes to healthy eating can seem impossible.
There are ways to cut back and still have plenty of treats and fun this weekend, says Mary Niester, a registered dietician at IHA Ann Arbor Family Practice.
But it’s important to know you child’s personality.
“Some kids are great at controlling how much candy they eat,” Niester said. “But, if you know your child will be tempted by it, then you can be in charge of the bag."
Just don't become the "candy police," she said. Calmly set limits up front, but be positive about it, she said.
And before you head out trick-or-treating this weekend, here are some tips to help keep the holiday a bit healthier:
1. Have a plan. “Before your child goes trick-or-treating, tell them they can have a couple of pieces of mini-size candies when they come home,” Niester said.
2. Sort the candy. Have your child sort his or her candy in piles of what he or she likes and doesn’t like. Get rid of the candy they don’t like and offer to buy back some of the candy they do like.
3. Eat well before heading out. “Before they go trick-or-treating make sure that they have eaten a healthy, well-balanced meal so that when they get home they won’t be as tempted to eat the whole bag of candy.”
4. Save it for later. Freeze leftover candy, Niester said.
5. Be a role model. “If your kids see you devouring candy they’ll pick up on that and follow your lead,” Niester said.
6. Try handing out candy alternatives. Non-food items like fake tattoos, stickers for younger kids, small bottles of bubbles can be fun alternatives. Or hand out non-candy treats like granola bars with three or more grams of fiber per serving, small bags of microwave popcorn, pretzels, soy chips, whole grain crackers, lower sugar cereal, sugar-free gum or trail mix.
7. Have healthy habits. Incorporating health eating habits throughout the year will make sure you and your child will be able to handle eating treats during the holidays.
Mary Niester is a registered dietician at IHA’s Ann Arbor Family Practice in Ann Arbor at 3200 W. Liberty. She can be reached at 734-761-2581.
Comments
Technojunkie
Sat, Oct 31, 2009 : 9:13 a.m.
The infamous hyperactivity caused by overindulging in Halloween candy isn't caused by sugar but by the petrochemical additives most candy is loaded with. FD&C coloring, BHT/BHA preservatives, vanillin (a waste product from paper manufacturing) instead of real vanilla, artificial flavoring, etc. Artificial sweeteners and to a lesser extent HFCS are bad news too. Multinational food manufacturers sell additive-free foods in Britain thanks to studies like this one: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673607613063/abstract But not here. You can find all-natural candy locally, just not from most of the heavily advertised brands.
TownieMom68
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 5:24 p.m.
Halloween is ALL about the candy. Be healthy the rest of the year, a once a year binge is ok. I remember the days (I'm 41) when people gave out home made carmel apples, popcorn balls, and regular size candy bars. We knew all the houses that gave out the best treats. We would work Burns Park, go home empty our pillow cases, and then recruit someone's parent or older sibling to drive a car full of us over to another good neighborhood, usually around Creal Crescent. Sometimes we would end up with a pack of 12 to 15 kids. Every one had a great time, we didn't make any trouble, and the only candy that got taken away was when a parent bartered for our Reeses cups. My friends and I still tell our kids about the great times we had on Halloween, and none of us ever died or turned into a delinquent from eating too much candy. Lighten up. Have FUN. Stop hovering. Oh, and by the way, if you give out non candy treats the kids probably will not come back to your house next year.
Laura Bien
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 4:32 p.m.
I don't believe a once-a-year choco-splurge will hurt anyone. And if the kid ends up queasy from overindulgence, well, there's a little life lesson, free of charge.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 2:34 p.m.
make it healthy? even a little bit? STAY HOME!
lumberg48108
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 1:53 p.m.
Fantastic story here - debunking the urban myth of Halloween Candy being targeted for poison! http://www.detnews.com/article/20091030/NATION/910300437/1361/Reports-of-poisoned-Halloween-candy-are-urban-myth
Morris Thorpe
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 1:36 p.m.
So anyone who thinks this is way over the top is a troll? Making your child have "a couple of piece" of mini candies on Halloween makes you, please excuse the shocking language, a fuddy duddy.
a2huron
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 1:33 p.m.
Nice article. I hadn't thought about the "small bottle of bubbles" idea.
Tina Reed
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 1:33 p.m.
Thanks, A2Jim. We were hoping to help offer helpful hints to parents and Mary Niester was happy to oblige with some of her ideas. One of the thoughts Niester also shared with these tips: "Its okay to have some candy at Halloween. Children expect it and look forward to it."
A2Jim
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 1:11 p.m.
I appreciate the creative thinking in this article -- it is nice to have some ideas to thwart the default actions on this commercial holiday! My goodness, the trolls just hop out of the woodwork.
Morris Thorpe
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 : 12:53 p.m.
Oh my gosh. Let the kid have some fun, will ya? The parent needs a plan??? For their *kid's* trick or treating? Seriously, what will happen if the child eats a lot of candy this night? Nothing will happen. Please stop indoctrinating kids with fear/guilt of everything.