Healthy Halloween Tips

October 27, 2012

Healthy Halloween Tips

Here comes Halloween!  You have worked hard all year to help your children maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet and this much anticipated one day of the year can easily sabotage your mission.  Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years and is steadily on the rise, so with the promise of junk food galore and countless calories in the days to come and beyond, it's up to you to make sure your children "stay on track" and yet still have a fun, memorable, healthy Halloween holiday.

Here are a few healthier Halloween tips for you to consider:

- Help reduce the temptation of snacking on candy while walking.  Have a healthy family meal before you take your kids trick-or-treating.

- Consider treating the tricksters that come to your house with healthier treats such as: 100% juice juice-boxes, pre-packaged trail mixes, temporary tattoos,silly bands, crayons, fun Halloween stickers, glow in the dark bouncy balls, glow stick bracelets, Halloween pencil top erasers, etc.

-  Get some exercise in and set a goal!  Make a commitment as to how many homes you and your kids will walk to and celebrate that goal once reached with a high five or a hug. (Or a happy dance!)

-  Just say no to the pillow case candy collection method!  Stick to a reasonable size collection bag so that your kids don't "over do it."

- Limit the amount of candy your child can eat each day.  Don't let your children have unlimited access.  When it is "snack" time, allow one piece of candy and be sure to accompany it with a healthy snack such as a banana, apple, carrot sticks, etc.

Finally, consider making this years trick-or-treating experience a teaching moment.  Talk to your children about donating a portion of the candy they have received to someone in need:  A homeless shelter, a nursing home, or to elderly neighbors who do not have many visitors.  Allow them to be the one to actually present the donations and they will learn the importance of giving and sharing and they will feel like real princes and princesses when they see the smiles they have helped to create!

Happy Halloween!

-Feature photo courtesy of erwss.