It’s every kid’s favorite time of year—permission to go from neighbor to neighbor asking for candy competing for biggest haul among their friends and siblings! And let’s be honest, adults love Halloween too. When the kids go to bed parents start rummaging through those plastic pumpkin buckets that line the kitchen counter.
If it’s hard for adults to resist Halloween candy, imagine how hard it is for kids. While you can’t change the sugar and fat content of candy, as parents you can help your kids find balance in their diet so they can enjoy a Halloween sweet treat while still maintaining a healthy diet.
The best part about Halloween candy is its miniature size. This helps maintain portion control. Just don’t fall victim into eating multiple pieces because of their small size. The small individual packages help you take the guess work out of portioning. Use this to your advantage.
Make concessions elsewhere. Avoid other places where sugar can sneak in, such as flavored drinks (which should be avoided anyway!) if you plan to indulge in Halloween candy.
Avoid sticky or chewy candy because those candies stay on teeth longer increasing the chances for cavities. Sticky/chewy candy can also wreak havoc on braces!
Keep the Halloween candy out of sight and kids may forget about it. Seeing it on the counter is a constant temptation!
Need more support to help you make wise food choices? Contact Virta at www.virtahealth.com/join?employer_id=ewtf.