Healthy Eating and Food Safety Tips: Make it a Healthy Halloween for Kids

Make it a healthy Halloween for kids

A small cowboy moseys down your driveway. A ballerina pirouettes up the sidewalk. A ghostly figure drifts along the street. What do they all these mysterious characters have in common? They are all on the lookout for a tasty Halloween treat.

For parents who work hard all year to feed their children healthy, nutritious meals and snacks, Halloween can be a challenge. On one hand, trick or treating can provide wonderful exercise as kids trek around the neighborhood collecting goodies. On the other hand, those goodies are likely sugar-laden, empty calories.

Here are some tips for parents that will let kids enjoy the holiday--but not overdo it on the candy treats.

--Feed kids a healthy snack or light meal before they head out. Go with your child and monitor what they are eating while out on the treat hunt.

--When you get home, sort through the candy. This is a good opportunity to check over the treats with safety in mind. Have your child choose several pieces to enjoy that night. Throw out the items your child will not eat.

--With your child’s input, set limits for the rest of the candy and explain the reasons for the limits. For instance, your child can choose one or two pieces a day when they get home from school. Store the rest away in a cupboard, out of reach and out of sight--it may be forgotten in a week or so.
--Be a role model yourself by eating candy in moderation. Buy your household Halloween candy at the last minute and store it out of sight. Buy only the amount you think you will hand out to the trick-or-treaters.

--Consider snacks such as small bags of pretzels, sugar-free gum, trail mix, small boxes of cereal or granola bars.

--Also consider non-food items like pencils, small bottles of bubbles, tiny decks of cards or a multitude of fun items found at your local discount store. (If you worry about the cost of these items, consider that one “fun size” candy bar is about 11¢).

Think of alternatives to trick-or-treating. For example, have your child dress up in their costume and go shopping for a toy or go to a movie. Or have your own party and invite your child’s playmates over for games and healthy treats like fruits, vegetables and cheeses.”

It’s important to know your child and their habits. Let them enjoy the holiday and together come up with some guidelines for the candy stash. Remember, Halloween is just one day—and one day won’t ruin your year-round efforts to provide your children with healthy, balanced meals.