“Trick” Kids to Eat Healthy “Treats” at Halloween

Article by Amy Bragagnini, MS, RD
Posted on October 30, 2007

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids (ok, and for some adults!) Dressing up in costumes and trick-or-treating can be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, a bag full of Halloween candy may turn out to be “frightening” to your kids’ teeth and health. It is up to parents to help their kids make good choices this Halloween. Begin by setting a good example for your kids. Instead of handing out candy that is full of sugar and fat, provide healthier treats. Purchase individual bags of pretzels or pumpkin seeds. Hand out trail mix or sugarless gum. Even non-food items like pencils, stickers, or trading cards can be fun for kids. I would avoid handing out full sized candy bars, individual packets of cookies/cupcakes, or sticky candy like gummy bears (poor dental health). Next, make sure your children have food in their stomach before heading out to trick-or-treat. Prepare an early dinner before they head out; include high fiber foods like vegetables and whole grains in addition to lean proteins. This will help them to feel fuller and hopefully prevent them from eating the candy along the way. Upon returning home, first check the candy thoroughly and then allow the children a set number of candy choices (for example, the kids may each have 5 pieces of candy that night). Then work together with the children to come up with a plan for the remaining candy. You may wish to freeze some of the candy to have at a later date. Kids might enjoy putting some of the candy into individual bags to be offered as gifts to teachers and friends. Finally, if the kids do not wish to part with their candy, satisfy them with including one piece of candy in their lunch each day.