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Don’t Let Halloween Become A Nutritional Nightmare

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Ghosts, goblins and ghouls are not half as scary as the nutritional nightmares our children face on a candy-centered holiday like Halloween. With childhood obesity at epidemic levels in this country, parents are understandably concerned about limiting the amount of sugar and empty calories in their children’s diets. Recent surveys have revealed that one in five children in this country are overweight, putting them at an increased risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and other serious health problems early in life.

Halloween does not have to wreak havoc with good eating habits. There are many delicious and fun treats that you can purchase or make at home that will be a big hit with little ghosts and goblins. Small bags of pretzels, popcorn, pumpkin seeds and trail mix are great substitutes for candy. Dried fruit, juice boxes, sugarless gum and pre-packed cheese and crackers are also good choices. (If you decide to give juice boxes, be sure to purchase all natural juices that don’t have added sugar.) Another excellent way to delight little goblins is by offering non-food items, such as spooky stickers, colorful pencils and erasers, novelty toothbrushes, crayons, coloring books or small inexpensive story books.

If you are having a party at your home, you can prepare foods that are festive, colorful and nutritious. Be sure the party also includes active games that will help children get the 60 minutes of exercise that they need each day. If your children are going out trick or treating, serve them a healthy meal before leaving your house and take along some pretzels and fruit in case they get hungry before returning home.

Once home, go through your child’s “loot” to look for any suspicious items and then work out a “deal” with your child to ration the candy. Discuss with your child what constitutes a reasonable number of treats to consume.

Safety is always a concern on Halloween. Following are some tips to help ensure that Halloween night is safe and full of treats, not tricks:

• Children should wear brightly colored costumes and carry flashlights so that they are easily seen by motorists.
• Make sure your child’s costume is not a tripping hazard. Statistics show that falls are among the most common Halloween-related injuries. Avoid costumes that are too long or that limit the child’s visibility. Help your child develop a costume theme that incorporates face painting instead of masks. Avoid oversized, floppy shoes and make sure that sidewalks and stairs are well lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.
• Make sure your child understands that candy is for people, not pets. Candy wrappers and lollipop sticks can be hazardous if swallowed and chocolate can be poisonous for some types of pets. Consider keeping your pet in a separate room away from the door. While Halloween can be great fun for humans, it can be terrifying for our four-legged friends.