By Rory Glynn
SmartHealthToday
Halloween is nearly upon us, and the good news is you can keep a relatively healthy outlook on the holiday without being that house (you know – the one that always hands out pencils or toothbrushes instead of delicious candy).
Here are some tricks for happier, healthier trick-or-treating:
EAT BEFORE YOU TREAT:
You know the advice about not grocery shopping on an empty stomach? The same holds true for your kids’ big night of gathering provisions.
“Give your kids a healthy meal or snack before they go trick-or-treating, and try to do the same when they break out the leftover candy, just so they’re not just filling up on empty calories,” said Karah Stanley, outpatient dietitian with St. Elizabeth Physicians.
BAG THE SACK:
Smaller children often trick-or-treat with smaller, decorative pails; older children learn that a simple pillow case holds more bounty. So keep your pillow cases on the pillows and make sure each of your kids has a reasonable-sized receptacle for candy. When that’s full, call it a night.
MORE THAN SWEETS:
Try taking some of the focus off candy, Stanley advised. “Costume parades, dance parties, any activity that cuts down on the time spent trick-or-treating,” she said.
BETTER THAN PENCILS:
Finally, you can find candy alternatives without resorting to pencils and toothbrushes. In fact, doing so will help children in your neighborhood with food allergies have an inclusive holiday! Click here for more info on the Teal Pumpkin Project.
“Stickers are still lots of fun for the younger kids,” Stanley said.
“Sugarless gum is another option. And if you want to give out candy bars, you don’t need to hand out the king-size ones. The fun size is fine.”
That’s one of the best takeaways from trick-or-treating: Even candy can be OK if you don’t overdo it. “A holiday centered on candy is a tough holiday for dietitians, too,” Stanley said. “It’s a good time for parents to demonstrate that things are OK in moderation.”
SmartHealthToday is a service of St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
