With Halloween just around the corner (hard to believe, right?), it's important to avoid sugar overload - for adults and children!
Sugar is not only bad for our teeth, eating sugar also leads to a rise in glucose (sugar) in the blood. This rise has been associated with changes to the level of certain fats in the blood, specifically an increase in triglycerides & a decrease in high-density-lipoproteins (HDL) cholestrol. This can lead to higher risk of heart disease.
Insert the Halloween Police...(sorry kids).
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Here are a few simple ways to avoid the sugar rush:
1) The type of candy you buy matters. Buy chocolate, especially dark chocolate. They have less sugar & even contain antioxidants. Read the labels & avoid things containing lots of sugar - parents everywhere will thank you.
2) Avoid candy altogether. Get little stickers or small play-dohs (they sell them at Target!) to pass out instead of candy.
3) If you allow your child to eat candy on Halloween, feed them a healthy dinner first. The body’s response to sugar can be altered by a number of factors, including the foods that are eaten with the sugary treat. Consuming sugar along with foods high in protein or fiber can result in a smaller rise in blood sugar.
4) Call in the Switch Witch. This is something I just learned about & I love this idea. Rather than throwing your child (or husband's) Halloween candy away with them knowing it (or trying to subtly do it behind their backs), wait until they are asleep on Halloween night. In comes the Switch Witch - he/she takes some of the candy, and replaces it with something else like a little (cheap) toy. This is a way to help your child whittle down their stash to their very favorites. Keep in mind that this is supposed to be fun and something your kid wants to do; the Switch Witch shouldn't be a punishment or requirement. I will definitely be calling the Switch Witch this Halloween!
5) Make a plan together. The day after trick-or-treating, talk about what you think is a reasonable way to handle the rest of the candy. Does one or two pieces a day sound fair? Would your child prefer to pack them in her lunch box or enjoy them at home? Children love being included in decision making.
Trust me, I get it. I LOVE Halloween too, and I also LOVE how much kids love Halloween, but it's important to teach them that sugar is a "sometimes" food and we want to eat foods that are more nutritious for our bodies. Hope you find these tips helpful.
Let's keep our kids (and selves) healthy this holiday season!
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