Keep Halloween Healthy This Year

Dressing up and scaring people in the spookiest month of the year is great fun, isn't it? But, let's be honest, for most kids, nothing beats collecting a bunch of candy in their basket and eating it all at once. While, a bit of candy here and there doesn't really do much harm, the enormous quantities of sugar-filled, cavity-filling snacks your average child accumulates during Halloween season will last far beyond the holiday itself! How can you keep Halloween healthy for your kids this year?

Trick Or Treat — Damage Control

Have you, as a parent, decided that you just can't stop your child from going out to do some trick or treating (with your supervision or that of another responsible adult, needless to say)? Your child(ren) will definitely come back home with a basket filled with an obscene amount of candy. Now, what can you do to limit the damage?

First of all, make sure you check the humongous candy stash your child just collected. Sometimes, candy will be wet and sticky or otherwise not at all good to eat. Home-made items or commercially produced products that have been opened are both also potential hazards for your little ones. Get rid of these immediately. It's good to keep in mind that there are some stories about horrible items snuck into Halloween candy such as razor blades or drugs going around.

After that, there are many ways in which you can deal with the candy. Some moms and dads take a rather relaxed approach, knowing that the seemingly big supply of candy will run out soon enough. If your kid eats bags and bags of candy, she'll probably have an upset stomach soon. Then, the candy will be gone. Your child may be a little hyperactive for a few days, and then the whole holiday will be forgotten for another year.

Other parents, however, like to take a different approach and prefer to limit candy consumption to one or two a day, which makes the Halloween spirit last longer and means your child won't overdose on candy in one big sitting. This is a really great approach for families who like to buy candy — not just because it means your kids don't eat too much candy but also it will save you money for a while, probably just about the same amount of money you spent on Halloween treats for other kids.

You could try something completely different and offer to trade the candy your child got in for a toy or pocket money (that can't be used to buy candy). This idea is based on the idea that the child has some ownership over the pile of candy since it was given to him, but beware — if you offer this possibility to your child, he may just say he prefers the candy over the toy.

Finally, doing Halloween crafting during the lead-up to the holiday can be great fun for the whole family. We get inspiration from the internet, and use sites like Flickr and Pinterest (we're not that creative!). Crafting together is also a wonderful opportunity to discuss Halloween and the sugary snacks that usually accompany the day with your children.

Discuss why candy tastes great, but can be damaging to our health in many ways. Share your own philosophy. In our house, this is that unhealthy things like candy (for kids) and beer (for adults) can be enjoyed in moderation. We talk about self-control, as well as more serious issues like obesity and dental decay. Your approach may be different, but making sure your children know what to expect before they get their hands on bags full of candy will make a huge difference.

Alternatives To Trick Or Treat

Do your kids have to go out trick or treating to enjoy Halloween? Not necessarily! Whether you live in a rough neighborhood, want to avoid candy, or have any other reason to stay away from the tradition of asking complete strangers for treats, you can still have a great Halloween without trick or treating.

Why not host a kids' dress up party for your kids and their friends?

You are almost guaranteed to find other parents who are a bit apprehensive about the whole Trick or Treat tradition — at your kids' school, in your circle of friends, from Scout cubs or anywhere else you or your kids know other children. If you still want to have a great Halloween experience, why not host your very own kids' dress-up party? Halloween dinner parties for adults can be great fun, and you could even combine a kids' party with a dinner event. 

Include games, great Halloween-themed food like ghost-shaped mashed potatoes and pumpkin risotto, and perhaps watch a film that is a little scary, but age appropriate. The party could be turned into a sleepover too. You can still have a wonderfully scary evening in a wholesome way, and your kids won't miss out on any of the fun. If you fall into the more laid-back category of parents, you can make sure kids attending a Halloween party instead of Trick or Treating will not be jealous of friends who did do that very easily. Buy a selection of different treats and candy! You could even make a pumpkin or ghost pinata to add to the fun. 

Younger children (up to 10 years old, or so) will enjoy decorating a pumpkin, playing hide and seek where someone dressed up as a ghost or witch has to catch them, and Halloween-themed board games. You could also collect "scary" things like plastic spiders and bats, pumpkins or a witch's hat and ask blindfolded children to figure out what they are. 

Handing Out Healthy Halloween Snacks

We all know that kids would rather receive candy than an apple when they are out trick or treating. Rest assured in the knowledge that they'll get plenty of sugary treats elsewhere, and be that “witch” who hands out healthy snacks.

• Roasted pumpkin seeds nicely wrapped up in orange cellophane maintains a traditional theme.

• Boxes of raisins can be dressed up as ghosts or witches fairly easily.

• Chocolate-coated nuts combine healthy with a little less healthy.

• If you must give candy, make sure that you avoid the variety that sticks to the teeth, as this type of candy attacks the child's dental health for longer periods of time.

• Another idea is to give a toothpaste samples along with your candy!

• Giving non-food treats may be an even better idea. Look at party favors for cheap toys that can be handed out to your neighborhood kids. It would be nice for these gifts to be Halloween themed, but it's not really necessary