Do’s and Don’ts of Halloween Candy
Halloween is a special time of year for kids. They get to dress up in costumes and play make-believe. It's a time when the everyday world seems a little bit magical. And of course, there's the candy. Halloween is a great opportunity for kids to enjoy some delicious treats. But when an entire family is trying to eat healthier, many families have questions about the best ways to enjoy Halloween and at the same time encourage healthy eating habits.
The Halloween Issue. What Do We Do With All The Candy?
Given my profession and my life's work of helping children with excess weight, you might assume that I was the a-hole giving away toothbrushes to Trick-or-Treaters. I was never that bad. But I did offer an alternative. Along with the candy, I would also offer options like glow sticks, mini toys, or sometimes even coins. Some would take the trinkets, few would take the coins. Most would take the candy. And I was always okay with that.
But for some parents, Halloween can be a stressful time. If they are trying to limit their child's sugar intake, the constant flow of candy can be daunting. Let's pause for a minute and talk about this...
Sugar Anxiety
I get it, the whole family might be working on healthy snacks, increasing fiber and being physically active, so when a celebration comes that involves unhealthy foods, many parents may feel anxious at first. How do I allow my child to enjoy halloween without the health risks that come with so - much - sugar? And many of us parents don't have the best personal history with sugar. Maybe we want to set a good example for our kids around sugar but find ourselves struggling to practice moderation. We want to help our child, and trust our child, but we don't want to have our child feel a lack of control around sugar.
However, it's important to remember that even younger children are perfectly capable of regulating their own sugar intake. If parents trust their kids to make smart choices, they'll likely find that their kids do just that. In fact, giving kids some autonomy over their sugar intake can help them develop a healthy relationship with food. So if you're feeling anxious about giving up control of sugar, try to take a deep breath and relax. Candy is not evil. It's not going to kill our kids or rot their teeth. And Halloween is just one day. Our kids will be just fine.
Treats, Not Tricks
From my experience, many parents want their kids to enjoy Halloween and set out on a Halloween adventure. But after seeing the sheer amount of sugar coming home, many parents panic and feel a need to get rid of the sugar bounty. In essence, parents often let their kids participate in “trick or treating” but then try to trick them out of their treats at home.
Take for example the switch witch. The switch witch is a character who comes to trade kids' Halloween candy in exchange for a toy. This seems like a great idea on paper--but done wrong, this can literally be taking candy from a baby.
Many parents that I talk to sneak Halloween candy by the handful into the garbage hoping their child won't notice until there is a more reasonable amount of candy left.
These methods bring up some bigger questions about our society as a whole - why is it that we are buying candy in such excess to give out to children only to dump it 24 hours later? Why has the norm become to acquire so much candy on Halloween that each child cannot possibly enjoy it all? Enriching candy manufacturers at the expense of only the appearance of giving it to children. I digress. Back to the issue at hand - Halloween candy.
So What Do Doctors Do About Halloween Candy Anyway?
I surveyed a little over 6000 pediatricians and weight management specialists about what they recommend to handle Halloween candy and generally, most of the doctors fell into one of three camps.
Modified from Obesity Action
The Swap
If you decide to participate in the switch witch, why not make it optional? Let your kids know that if they would like to trade in some (or most) of their candy for a toy, they may. But here is the key - they must be allowed the choice to keep their candy without pressure to participate.
If the child is coerced into participating in the switch witch (i.e the switch is not optional), then it makes candy seem more desirable. This over desire for candy makes it harder for the child to self-regulate and can lead to overeating candy and other high-calorie foods.
This becomes problematic when we want nothing more than for them to grow up into happy adults who trust themselves around food and feel confident taking care. Tricking them out of candy doesn't say to our kids that we trust them and their bodies, it says the direct opposite.
The Moderator
Yup, we parents have all been there. The one saying enough is enough. Deciding for our children how much they should have. Maybe the moderator watches a child's food intake and gives non-verbal cues letting a child know that they should stop. Maybe he or she sets a limit depending on a child's age. Regardless of the way the moderation happens, the key with the moderator is that the child is not the one who decides. Usually, the child is left asking or pleading for more.
The Free-for-All
With the free-for-all, parents pretty much let their kids have at it with the candy. And while this may seem like a nightmare to some parents, it doesn't have to be. Some families allow free access to the candy until it is gone, some for a few days, and some for 2-3 days, and then place some guidelines (like OK to have candy, but only at set meal and snack times)
Halloween is a great time to practice having sweets.
Ellyn Satter has some great advice. “Halloween candy presents a learning opportunity. Work toward having your child be able to manage their own stash. For them to learn, you will have to keep your interference to a minimum. When they come home from trick or treating, let them lay out their booty, gloat over it, sort it and eat as much of it as they want. Let them do the same the next day. Then have them put it away and relegate it to meal- and snack-time: a couple of small pieces at meals for dessert and as much as they want for snack time.
If they can follow the rules, your child gets to keep control of the stash. Otherwise, you do, on the assumption that as soon as they can manage it, they get to keep it.“
How to create a healthy relationship with sweets.
You can help your child develop a healthy relationship with sweets by including them in regular meals and snacks. When children have regular access to sweets, they tend to eat them in moderation. However, children who are deprived of high-sugar snacks often beg, whine, and sneak to get them. This can lead to overeating and weight gain. Additionally, deprived children may feel ashamed of their eating. You can prevent this by routinely including sweets in family meals and snacks. This will help your child develop healthy habits towards sweets and learn to eat them along with healthy foods in moderation.
My plan this year
This year, I am going to take a different approach than I have in the past. I am not going to push the switch witch, and I am not going to assume the role of the moderator of my kid's candy intake. I'm not going to comment, make faces, or give warnings that they might feel sick. I don't want my child's relationship with candy to be rooted in feelings of fear or deprivation. I am going to let them try, explore, test the boundaries, see what feels good and what doesn’t and then, over time move into a more natural “known” rhythm. I am going to let my kids collect candy, love it, and indulge in it.
Yup, I'm going to sit there and watch what they do. If they eat too much junk food, they might feel sick, and that is a great lesson for them to learn. After a few days of overindulgence, I am going to ask them what they want to do with it. We will cook healthy meals to help balance out our child's diet, and we will try to get a little more exercise and physical activities to get out some more energy from the extra calories. And if parenting shame or anxiety creeps up as I watch them open their eighth, ninth or (gulp) tenth piece of candy, I am going to remind myself that this too, is temporary.
The Joy of Halloween
The joy of Halloween is truly felt by kids everywhere. With trick-or-treating, costume contests, and fun activities galore it's a night full of anticipation and fun. Children enjoy a lot more about halloween than just the candy, but if you make a big fuss about the candy, it can spoil everything else.
I hope this helps. If you are concerned about your child's eating habits, or would like some help with your child's weight or physical activity, please check with your child's doctor or free resources at weight loss for kids.
