Healthier Halloween

Healthier Halloween
(Shutterstock*)
10/18/2014
Updated:
10/18/2014

Halloween is such a magical time of the year but it also marks the beginning of sugar season. For parents with small children, often the trickiest part is learning how to deal with the overabundance of candy. My general motto, especially when it comes to kids, is to allow everything in moderation. An all out candy prohibition will only make it more enticing, so it’s best if you teach your kids to incorporate treats in a reasonable way.

Here are my top tips and tricks for a healthier Halloween:

1. Visit Your Local Dollar Store

Skip the candy and buy a bunch of fun Halloween non-food treats such as glow sticks, Halloween stickers, superballs, bubbles, Halloween pencils and erasers. Your kids will get just as excited about these treats and it will act as a distraction from the candy!

2. Get Creative With Food

Make your own spooky Halloween snacks using whole foods. Carrots and almond slices make great witches fingers or try apples with nut butter and almond slices for creepy monster mouths.

3. Be Crafty

Spend quality time with your kids making fun, small treat bags themed on their costumes. It will look like they get a lot more candy than they actually do!

4. Plan Non-candy Activities

Go pumpkin picking, visit a haunted house or go on a hay ride. There are so many ways to celebrate Halloween that don’t involve candy!

5. Set Healthy Limits

When your kids get older, allow them to have some candy on Halloween and limit their intake to a few small pieces afterwards.

6. Fill Them Up

Feed your kids a nutritious meal before they head out trick or treating. If they’ve eaten a whole foods based meal, chances are they won’t overeat the sugary stuff.

7. Relax and Have Fun!

Don’t try and overthink it.

This article was originally published on www.drfranklipman.com. Read the original here.

*Image of “girl“ via Shutterstock

 

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