How to Enjoy Halloween Candy Without the Sugar Stress
Introduction
Halloween is one of my FAVORITE times of year. I love everything about the spooky season, the fall weather, dressing my kids up as their favorite characters, decorating the house, and watching Hocus Pocus for the 100th time. But along with all the fun, there’s one part of Halloween that many parents secretly dread: the candy.
It’s not just one night of trick-or-treating anymore. There are festivals, trunk-or-treats, school parties, and church events where candy seems to take center stage. As a parent, I always end up with buckets of candy, and it feels like we won’t finish it until next Halloween!
That much candy can stir up some anxiety. We don’t want to create food battles with our kids, but we also want to promote a healthy relationship with food, especially during these treat-heavy seasons.
This blog will help you navigate the overwhelming amount of candy pouring into your household this year and provide strategies to manage candy consumption while still fostering a healthy relationship with food for your child.
Tips for Handling Halloween Candy
Let your child enjoy their candy haul: This can feel uncomfortable if sweets are not a part of your normal food routines. Allow them to have fun on Halloween night without restrictions. If a child overindulges and feels unwell, use it as a teaching moment rather than scolding. Say something like, “How does your tummy feel? What do you think your body is telling you?” This will help them understand the natural consequences of eating too much candy.
Create learning opportunities: Use Halloween as a teaching moment for listening to their bodies. Ask questions like, "How do you feel after eating that candy?" “What flavors do you taste?”
Eat candy alongside your kiddo and model to them how to enjoy it in moderation and be mindful of the experience.
Offer balance: Have other foods available on Halloween (like a fun dinner before trick-or-treating) so candy isn’t the main event.
No need to police candy: Making a big deal out of candy might create tension around it and make it more appealing than it needs to be. We don’t want to have candy on a pedestal, this will just create unnecessary excitement with these foods.
The Switch Witch
Some love it, some hate it, and some have no idea what it is. The switch witch is the idea that a “witch” comes to trade your candy for a toy. This leaves you with less or no candy, but you get a new toy! Great idea…right?
There are a few reasons why we don't love promoting this.
It doesn't give your child the opportunity to have a healthy relationship with candy and enjoy it in moderation
It shows your child that you do not trust them with candy and that they can’t trust their bodies
It can promote the “forbidden fruit” effect - restricting or trading candy can make it more desirable.
The switch witch may be an appropriate idea to switch out certain candies that may be a choking hazard or unsafe for consumption due to an allergy, but this should be communicated to your child so they know you are not taking away candy because it is inherently bad for them. It is ok to explain that some foods may be safe for other children, and not safe for them.
Setting boundaries without being restrictive
There is a difference between restricting and setting a boundary. Boundaries will look different in everyone's household (especially if you have toddlers). Here are a few examples of setting a boundary around candy with your kiddo.
Have a plan - discuss with your child that as a family candy will be enjoyed freely on Halloween night and then the following days it can be enjoyed during set times (dinner, after-school snack, etc)
Have a candy jar available and easily accessible but ensure they ask permission before diving in - the candy isn't hidden or off limits and it gives kids control over when they eat candy, building trust, while also setting the expectation that candy is one part of their overall diet, not the main focus.
Set a time when candy can be enjoyed - before brushing your teeth, after school or practice, or whatever works for your family - this creates a natural routine that avoids grazing on candy throughout the day while keeping it part of the regular diet.
Pair candy with other foods - if your child asks for candy, say yes and ask them if they would like to pair it with another snack like berries, yogurt, cheese, crackers, etc. This will help them stay full for longer and normalize that candy can be a part of a normal diet.
Looking at the big picture
For parents who have struggled with fear of sugar, food dyes, or other sweet foods and their ingredients, I encourage you to look at the big picture surrounding your child's candy consumption. The approach in this blog enhances your child's relationship with food, including sweets! We want our children to be self-driven eaters who trust their bodies, and make food choices that are right for them. A few days of increased sugar intake may be uncomfortable, but it teaches your child about food neutrality, how to have a fun eating experience, and how to listen to and trust their little bodies.
If you feel like you need support during this season, Nourished Pediatrics can help you create solutions to nurture, foster, and comfort your child in their feeding journey. Click here to schedule your initial evaluation and get support today!
Blog post by Nanci Dillow, BS, MS (Dietetic Intern)
