Halloween candy overload: 5 ways to keep kids from overindulging

Halloween is simply a fun-filled tradition that’s champion known for nan deluge of candy.

Between trick-or-treating and Halloween parties, it tin beryllium reliable to mean kids' intake of sweets and treats.

In an question and reply pinch Fox News Digital, Dr. Dyan Hes, aesculapian head astatine Corcorde Pediatrics of Northwell Health successful New York City, shared that though she is simply a "big instrumentality of candy," Halloween is simply a awesome illustration of "everything successful moderation."

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Hes, who specializes successful pediatric obesity medicine, said families that are overly strict astir candy depletion tin lead to kids sneaking "forbidden food."

Between trick-or-treating and Halloween parties, it tin beryllium reliable to mean kids' intake of sweets and treats, experts say. (iStock)

To let kids to still person nosy while keeping Halloween comparatively healthy, Hes offered nan pursuing tips. 

1. Set candy limits

Parents should make a scheme with their kids, Hes said, which could see choosing really galore pieces of candy they tin person connected Halloween nighttime and astatine parties.

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The American Heart Association recommends that kids don’t devour much than 25 grams of added sweetener per day. 

That’s nan balanced of astir 4 to 5 mini Milky Ways, 3 fun-size Snickers aliases 3 bags of M&Ms, according to registered dietitian nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein.

Setting a candy limit will promote kids to "prioritize their favourite candies, eat them much slow and savor them much mindfully," a nutritionist said. (iStock)

"Knowing there’s a clear and adjacent allotment up of clip will minimize immoderate clash later on," nan Los Angeles-based master told Fox News Digital. 

"It will besides promote them to prioritize their favourite candies, eat them much slow and savor them much mindfully," she went on.

"It’s a awesome opportunity to show moderation and balance."

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Once Halloween is over, Hes suggests storing nan remaining candy retired of show and offering 1 aliases 2 pieces arsenic a dainty successful nan coming days.

2. Incorporate balanced meals

Before taking kids trick-or-treating, Muhlstein suggests serving nutritious foods for illustration veggies, protein, fibre and patient fats.

"For breakfast, you mightiness want to forgo nan sweeter action for illustration pancakes and syrup [in favour of] a much savory repast for illustration eggs and avocado toast, truthful that nan day’s sweetener allotment isn’t exceeded earlier nan kids spell trick-or-treating," she said.

One master encouraged adding patient "color" to nan Halloween treats table, specified arsenic tangerines, carrots aliases cheddar food for nan colour orange. (iStock)

For dinner, she recommended a nutritious yet festive meal, specified arsenic turkey-stuffed peppers that look for illustration jack-o-lanterns, aliases chickpea pasta and nutrient condiment pinch veggie sticks connected nan side. 

"This will thief nan kids consciousness full, equilibrium their humor sweetener levels, amended their power and trim nan likelihood of overindulging successful candy later on," Muhlstein said.

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3. Foster patient decision-making

Instead of putting strict limits connected Halloween fun, parents should foster healthier decision-making, experts say.

Muhlstein encouraged parents to broaden nan meaning of "treats," arsenic nan excitement of eating candy is "very short-lived."

Other ways to observe Halloween see giving retired pretzels, crackers, trinkets, coins, stickers, impermanent tattoos aliases different prizes.

Instead of parents putting strict limits connected Halloween fun, fostering healthier decision-making will spell a agelong way, experts say. (iStock)

"It’s a awesome measurement to thief your kids foster a healthy relationship pinch nan holidays, truthful they spot that location are much ways to dainty yourself and celebrate, beyond food," Muhlstein said.

4. Encourage activity and non-candy activities

Muhlstein suggested activities that impact activity alternatively of eating candy, for illustration a themed frost creation party, scavenger hunt aliases DIY creation project.

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"You tin people retired Halloween coloring sheets aliases group up a manner show for everyone to enactment retired their Halloween costume," she said. 

Alternative celebrations tin thief forestall nan risks of overindulging successful sweets, experts say.  (iStock)

"This creates a lifelong appreciation for Halloween that becomes little astir nan sweets and much astir nan costumes, decorating and clip spent pinch family and friends."

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Alternative celebrations for illustration these besides thief forestall nan risks of overindulging successful sweets, including upset stomachs, hyperactivity and cavities, she added.

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Consistently eating unhealthy foods tin besides lead to semipermanent wellness effects, for illustration pediatric obesity, which is simply a "huge crisis" successful America, according to Hes.

"It leads to diabetes, bosom disease, associated problems and worsening asthma," she warned, on pinch slump and anxiety.

5. Get free of other candy

For immoderate families who person problem controlling nan magnitude of candy consumption, Hes’ solution is simple.

"If you can’t power it and your children are not going to respect nan rules … past you'll person to get free of nan candy," she advised.

Bringing other candy to activity aliases donating it tin thief trim down connected excess consumption. (iStock)

Muhlstein projected nan "Switch Witch" tradition, wherever kids tin waste and acquisition their excess candy for a toy, book, rate aliases different non-food reward, for illustration a travel to nan movies.

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Instead of tossing candy successful nan trash, Hes suggested bringing it to activity aliases donating it.

"You tin nonstop your candy to nan troops serving abroad, aliases immoderate dentists cod nan candy [and] you get a reward … for returning it," she said.