Are you a parent starting to worry about the Halloween sugar rush?
Lots of parents feel stress about finding the right approach to navigate Halloween. You may be worried that your child may have too much sugar and affect their energy intake. You may even be concerned about their health overall when they eat candy.
However, limiting the amount of candy your child eats at Halloween can actually do more harm than good!
Here are 4 tips from our registered dietitian to help you find the right balance as a parent:
1. Offer a balanced meal with lots of protein before trick or treating. This will make sure that your child has nutritious foods to satisfy their appetite, which might mean they want less Halloween candies after trick or treating.
2. Avoid controlling how much your child eats. Restrictions can create behaviours such as sneaking and hiding foods, which can lead to challenges in the long-term such as guilt around enjoying foods and trouble self-regulating. Set boundaries without directly limiting how much candy your child has.
3. Reduce the novelty of Halloween candy. After Halloween, include their treats with regular meals to help avoid putting candy on a pedestal and to teach your child moderation. It's also important to use neutral language around these foods, as both positive or negative language can impact how your child sees these treats.
4. Help them learn from their experiences. Chances are that at some point, your little one may have too much halloween candy and this might cause a stomachache. This mistake can be a great learning experience for them with your guidance. Allowing them to learn the limits of their own body is one of the best things we can do to support life-long mindful eating.
These tips can help your child make mindful choices and develop a positive attitude towards treats.
If you have any questions or need more guidance on maintaining a healthy balance during Halloween and beyond, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to help!
Wishing you and your family a safe, fun, and delicious Halloween!