Halloween Candy

How does Halloween candy fit into my obesity prevention strategy?

Well, it doesn't. Really, it's disgusting when you think about it. The epitome of American excess, in the extreme. Fat, sugar, and no nutritional value makes for rotten teeth, hyper kids, and added pounds. What could be worse?

But I think Halloween is fun! It's a little nostalgic for me, remembering all the pumpkins my siblings and I designed (and my Dad carved) lighting up my sister's 16 pane bedroom window in our little cape cod style house. Yes, there were 16 pumpkins carved every year. And I loved almost all of the candy. Remember wax lips? There were, and still are, some candies I don't like. For example, I hated the Boston Baked Bean candy. I always tried to trade that one. I still have some of the Halloween costumes my Mom made for me, and once in a while I can get one of my kids to wear one. This year one of my high school prom dresses has been incorporated into a Queen of Hearts costume for my eleven-year-old. And there was a lot of Daddy/daughter bonding time this month making matching robot costumes out of cardboard boxes.

So, what to do about the candy? I've tried different ideas to deal with it. First, I don't want the supply of candy to last forever. As a kid I can remember still having Halloween candy to eat in the car on the way to Florida for Spring Break! Yuck! I say be done with it in a week, maybe two, but don't let it last. You could have a little splurge of candy eating on the night of trick-or-treating, and just get it over with, then share the rest with Mom and Dad, and their friends at work. You can have kids trade in candy for a different reward--a movie night, laser tag, Bounce Land, a water park, a trip to the mall. You can keep the candy in a public area (not your child's bedroom), and reduce its visibility (start putting it in the cupboard)--lots of kids will forget about it.

Just have some kind of plan that doesn't involve daily candy eating from now until the New Year. Make candy be a little splurge that happens as a special treat. Consider it a privilege, not a right. Incorporate your child's favorite treats into the plan, but discourage them from eating the stuff they don't love. Encourage sharing. Emphasize teeth brushing. Require an apple, banana, or something GREEN be eaten in addition to the treat. Don't put candy in a packed lunch.

Have a parent "tax" on candy. Use this as an opportunity to explain how income taxes work--if your child collects 10 pieces of candy they have to give you one piece, but if they collect 100 pieces of candy they have to give you 30 pieces! I haven't tried this one yet, but my husband is an economist, so I'm sure this is going to happen some time at our house.

Here is an interesting idea--talk to your child before they trick-or treat about what they think is a good way to handle all the candy. You might be surprised at the ideas they have, and you can review good nutrition at the same time.

You can also intervene by limiting the amount of candy your child collects. Go trick-or-treating with your child. Start a little late. Relax, don't run. Have them use a small bag to collect candy, not a pillow case. Stop to socialize with others along the way. Take your time! Insist on good trick-or-treat manners (I think the rules of trick-or-treating are to wear a costume, say "trick-or-treat" and then say "thank you"). Let your child stop and take time to choose and eat a few pieces along the way. Show off your costumes, take pictures. Spend some time decorating your house that night. Maybe your kids would like to pass out candy to others for a while. Do anything you can to slow down the candy collection process and emphasize the fun and fantasy of the night.

Most of all I would suggest having some kind of plan that cuts off the candy after a week (or two). Think about it before you trick-or-treat. Tomorrow I'll be angling for my share of Heath Bars, Almond Joy, Starbursts, and Dots. Then we'll eat a bunch of candy that night, and keep the rest in the kitchen for about a week. And that will be it for Halloween candy at our house.

Good luck to you, and remember to have fun!

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