Monday, October 6, 2014
Halloween is
just around the corner and sometimes it can be challenging to keep our little
ghouls and goblins out of the candy bowl and eating healthy. From Halloween parties to trick or treating,
this time of year seems to be filled with sweet candy treats of all kinds. A key to keeping these sweets to a minimum is
to have a plan BEFORE you head out the door.
So we’ve put
together 5 tips that can help keep Halloween fun AND healthy!
1. Buy your Halloween candy that day not in advance. This way you don’t get tempted to dive into
that bag over the days leading up to trick or treating. And when you do buy the candy, don’t buy the
kind you really love. Pick up the
variety that isn’t so tempting!
2. Buy something other than candy to hand out this Halloween. Passing
out little goodies like yo-yos, glow sticks, pencils, etc. is a great way to
cut back on the temptations in your own house and it’s a great alternative for
the kids. You can easily find these types of items at any big box store or you
can order large quantities online at places like Oriental Trading.
3. Eat a healthy well balanced dinner before you head out the door. This can help cut down on candy consumption
when you all return home with sacks full of candy.
4. Review the candy rules. How many
pieces of candy can they eat when they get home? How many pieces can they have per day for the
next few days? What is the plan for the
balance of the candy? Having a candy
plan or “treat schedule” makes it easier for everyone in the family.
5. Look for alternatives to keeping all that candy in the house. Try one of these
great ideas:
- A favorite in the Wilkinson household – The Halloween Fairy! Have your kids pick their 10 favorite candies and then leave the rest in their bucket. That night the Halloween Fairy comes to take the candy and replaces it with a small toy. The Halloween Fairy takes this candy to all the little girls and boys that didn't have the chance to get candy this year. The kids love it! The kids still get to join in on the fun of trick or treating and eating SOME candy. It’s a great way to teach kids about sharing, moderation and even making choices.
- Other option includes participating in a candy “trade-in” event. Earth Fare does a candy trade-in day as well as local dentists.
- You could also look into shipping your candy to the troops, as a family or even make it a school-wide event! There are wonderful organizations that make the process super simple. Here are a couple to check out if you are interested:
It isn’t about denying your kids the traditions of Halloween. It’s about finding that healthy balance. So get
creative. Let your kiddos help you out
with making a plan. And enjoy a hauntingly healthy Halloween…happy
haunting!
Do you have any healthy Halloween tips you’d like to share? Let’s make this Halloween a little healthier
this year!
~ Angela Wilkinson - Total Nutrition Technology Founder/President
~ Angela Wilkinson - Total Nutrition Technology Founder/President
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