Halloween is a holiday that never seems to get old or boring. No matter how old you get or whether or not you choose to dress up, there’s just something about the atmosphere on the spooky night that fills both kids and adults alike with glee. As a parent, that glee tends to dull a bit once you realize just how much candy and sugary sweets your kids are going to be consuming for the next couple of weeks. Luckily, we totally have your back when it comes to keeping control of the Halloween candy chaos, these tips, while simple, will help make keeping your kids safe and healthy a lot easier this year.
1. Fill Up Before Trick-or-Treating
Don’t let your little ones go trick-or-treating on an empty stomach. If they are already full from a delicious, healthy dinner they will be less likely to over-indulge once they get home. Bringing along a couple of small, healthy snacks like apples and celery sticks with you on your Halloween outing may also help your kids curve those candy cravings.
2. Set Rules
Setting rules and expectations about Halloween night and the subsequent candy overload a few days before the holiday is a great was to keep your kids in line. Let them know that there will be rules for how and when they consume their candy (a couple pieces a day, only on weekends, etc.) and remember to stick to them. They may not like it but having some clear ground rules beforehand will help everything go much more smoothly.
3. Be An Example
As their parent, your children look to you as an unofficial model for certain behaviors and actions. If you are trying to teach your child about impulse control and health but they see you constantly munching on Halloween treats, they may feel more inclined to disobey the rules. Practice control yourself, designate how much candy you are allowed to have and stick to the plan. Show your kids that you are just as dedicated as they are, but if you just have to indulge in a lollypop or a candy bar, try to do it away from little eyes.
4. Turn Goodies into Goodies
There are countless dessert recipes on the internet and on Pinterest that call for the use of leftover Halloween candy. While it’s true that these recipes aren’t always the most healthy, they give you and your kiddos a way to create something cool and delicious while getting rid of the sweet stuff a little bit faster.
5. Stash The Candy
The term “out of sight, out of mind” definitely still works when it comes to candy. While you don’t need to throw out your kids’ stash of Halloween goodies completely, it may not be the best choice to keep it somewhere where they can constantly look at it. Instead of the dining room table or their bedrooms, stash the candy inside of a high cabinet or in the master bedroom and only bring it out when they are allowed to eat it.
6. Talk To Them
The real preparation for Halloween candy madness begins long before the holiday even rolls around. It is always important to talk to your children about the importance of health. Make sure they know that, while delicious, eating candy every single day isn’t a choice that will lead to a very healthy or happy life. Kids that are informed tend to make better choices.
7. Try To Relax
It may be hard, especially when your mind is filled with tiny rotting teeth and baby pot bellies, but it is important to let go. Let your kids enjoy the holiday for what it is, let them overindulge every once in a while. Remember that they aren’t in any mortal danger because they’re filling up with candy for a few days, as long as the rest of their year is filled with good eating, plenty of physical activity, and caring parents, they will be just fine.