Tricks For Your Halloween Treats

Genesis Offers Advice On How To Prevent A Sugar Overload

Davenport, IA - For many children, Halloween is one of the best nights of the year. But how can parents let their ghosts and goblins have fun without going overboard on the junk food they collected? Here are some tricks for controlling Halloween treats in your house:

"Halloween is a great time of year to practice healthy habits," says Denise Strathdee, an outpatient dietitian at Genesis Medical Center. "Encouraging good habits now can help children eat better throughout the year. And getting kids to think about what they eat, how much they eat and when they eat now can prevent obesity later."

• Encourage moderation. Balance is what makes good health, and all foods can fit. Parents should encourage moderation. Don't over-restrict candy - treat it with the attitude that it is one of those special times, and a little will fit into the child's good health and nutrition.
• Provide guidelines for Halloween candy. When the candy comes home, sort through it to weed out anything that looks suspicious. Have kids discard or give away what they don't like so there is no temptation to eat it.
• Set a policy for eating trick-or-treat candy. Experts recommend that treats be doled out sparingly, perhaps one for dessert each night for a week alongside a healthy food, such as a piece of fruit or a glass of low fat milk. Strathdee also suggests that parents give their kids a time limit for how long candy can remain in the house before being thrown away.

"One rule of thumb about keeping holiday candy would be until the next holiday, such as Thanksgiving," says Strathdee. "That's a good four-week period that gives them time to enjoy candy and spread it out evenly throughout that time. Leftovers can then be either discarded or frozen for another time."

• Fill your kids' bellies with a nutritious meal before they go out trick-or-treating. Try cooking their favorites for dinner so they're more likely to feel full and have less room for candy. Have nutritious snacks available. The fall season is a great time to find foods that are delicious and good for you. Winter squash, apples, baked sweet potatoes and pumpkin bread are all great ideas.
• These days, many are steering away from the traditional sugary sweets. It's okay to give non-candy treats. Pencils, bracelets, stickers and small toys are a few ideas. For healthier food favors try sugarless gum, pre-packaged dried fruits or individual bags of pretzels.
• Organize activities at home where you have control over what is served. If you're hosting a party, include healthy snack choices, such as popcorn, pretzels, fruit juice, fruit or vegetable chunks with dip and cocoa made with low fat milk. Create a "just-for-fun" occasion with games, arts and crafts or costume contests.

"Focus on the excitement of the day and make candy less of an issue," says Strathdee. "Take advantage of the festivities that don't involve food."

For more information about how to avoid a sugar rush or about Halloween safety, visit the Genesis Health System Web site, www.genesishealth.com or talk with a registered nurse at Genesis On Call, 421-2000 or 800-383-2575.