How can you improve your Halloween Health?

Halloween may present a special challenge for parents, with the sudden huge influx of sugary snacks into the house. Limiting the amount of junk that your kids eat is important, but helping them learn how to make healthy choices is even more important.

Here are some ideas to improve your Halloween Health.

Many parents are very creative when it comes to limiting their child’s intake of Halloween candy.  Feeding kids before trick-or-treating can help because if the kids are full, they are less likely to binge on the candy right away.

It is important to be clear with your children about the limits surrounding their Halloween candy.  Be clear that you are not taking the candy away as a punishment, but as a way to support them in making healthy food choices.  By compromising and allowing small amounts, you may be able to significantly limit the candy and help your children learn how to enjoy some “forbidden” foods in moderation.   

This year, there is a movement out there called the Teal Pumpkin Project.  These houses are recognizing food allergies and sensitivities and are placing teal colored pumpkins on their front step.  These houses will be handing out non food items, so if you are a parent of a child with food allergies and sensitivities this will help your child feel included this Halloween.

Instead of focusing on the candy, use healthy foods to celebrate the Halloween season.  Plenty of healthy recipes that use fruits and veggies can be found, and when kids are eating festive, fun foods (even when they are made from veggies), they will learn to enjoy their healthy choices.

Download your FREE copy of Healthy Halloween Recipes today!   Click here -->> RECIPE BOOK  << --- to download

Avoid having the excess candy in the house by purchasing candy you are planning to hand out at the last minute and getting rid of any leftovers—don’t let your kids see you bingeing on the sugary stuff!  Not only will you regret it, you are setting a terrible example.

Some parents try a “buy back” plan for Halloween candy.  Many kids are motivated by getting a book, toy or some money, so you might want to consider buying their candy from them or offering to purchase a special item for them in exchange for the candy.  The less they eat, the more money they can get, if you work out a certain price per pound!  I've heard this called the "Switch Witch"  I think it's a great idea, and one I wish that I had thought of or known about when my kids were smaller.

Keeping plenty of tasty and nutritious snacks on hand will help kids get full of healthy foods, rather than reach for the candy when they want a snack.  The occasional Halloween treat is not terribly harmful if they have filled up on good foods first.

Negotiate the limits and enforce them.  Kids often need plenty of guidance when it comes to the temptations of Halloween candy.  Be sure that you are focusing on the positive effects of not eating the candy, rather than using it as a punishment.  When kids feel that they somehow got “ripped off” by having no Halloween candy, then they are more likely to sneak or stash the candy somewhere and rebel a bit at other healthy choices.

Use your best parental judgment when it comes to limiting your child’s Halloween candy.  Offer plenty of healthy alternatives.  If you are truly worried about your child’s obesity or other health condition, you must take the limits far more seriously.  However, if your child has learned the value of making healthy choices, then you can allow them to continue to do so and they will probably eat very little Halloween candy on their own.

To set a good example, you can hand out healthier alternatives to Halloween candy to the trick-or-treaters that come to your house—think stickers, temporary tattoos, small halloween toys,  granola, pumpkin or sunflower seeds or other healthy, tasty treats.

Don't forget to download your FREE copy of Healthy Halloween Recipes today!   Click here -->> RECIPE BOOK  << --- to download

Have a safe, happy and healthy Halloween!

BOO!