Halloween and Nutrition: How to Manage?

Halloween is just around the corner! Kids are all excited to pick out a new costume this year and go door-to-door collecting treats. Parents, on the other hand, are haunted by the thought of managing their little monsters and the bags full of candy! Especially since the often very generous haul tends to stay in the cupboards for a long time, tempting sweet tooths — even those of parents who are mindful of their own waistlines.

How can you manage it all? It’s true that it only happens once a year… but the years come around pretty quickly. So let’s take the opportunity to work on some basic eating habits to limit the damage. Kids will be more tempted to eat sweets, just like you, if they are seen as forbidden foods! Believe me, deprivation is what leads to cravings.

Strategy #1: Avoid telling them to finish their plate to get treats

This way, the less nutritious food will be perceived as a regular food and not as a reward. This will prevent the child, who may already be full, from overeating and labeling the food as a “treat.”

Strategy #2: Plan to include treats as part of the meal

Ask the kids to save some room for their candy choices. If we treat sweets as neutral foods, children will get tired of them on their own, which will avoid family arguments at home.

Strategy #3: Keep the candy out of sight

This will help reduce visual temptation because we eat with our eyes too. By the way, these tips are good for you adults as well. Remember, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Happy Halloween!
Yum, that’s good!

Shirley Pomerleau, Dietitian – Nutritionist