Halloween can be a scary time for parents. You try all year to keep your children healthy, limiting sweets, keeping an eye on their diet, adding fruits and veggies just fighting to control what goes into their bodies. Halloween is one night of the year where in only a few hours there is enough candy/sweets collected by your children for the whole year!
Dont be scared! All of your effort is not going to be wasted. With some quick and easy tips I believe I can help to remove the fear of tomorrow night and let you get back to enjoying the fun of Halloween.
1. Your kids are going to get a lot of candy. ACCEPT THIS! You can't prevent it from happening unless you want to really ruin their night and not let them out at all!
2. Go through their bags when they get home. For SAFETY make sure to remove any unwrapped, loosely wrapped, or suspicious candy. This should cut down on some of the volume!
3. Only allow them a few pieces on HALLOWEEN NIGHT. This should help cut down on the sugar rush before bed. Make sure they brush before bed as well!
4. Consider using a BARTER SYSTEM. Many parents are participating in this new trend. Trade cash, stickers, or small toys for the candy in their bag. You can then bring this candy you've traded for into the office or send it to work with a spouse. Anything to remove it from the household.
5. FREEZE some of the candy for use later on special days or even for baking!
6. If you're participating in handing out candy at your home, only buy the candy/items you know your family won't like or that are HEALTHY! Consider popcorn balls or apples instead of chocolate and sweets.
7. Remember, its Halloween and it only comes once a year. Its OK to let your family indulge once in and while and it won't ruin the hard work you're doing to keep them and yourself healthy!
Eat (not too many sweets)
Drink (plenty of water)
and BE SCARY!!!
Happy Halloween :)
Dr. Caitlin Pietrosanto
