Halloween is just one of those things that I could truly take or leave. I’ve never been much of a Halloween fanatic. As a kid, I recall trick or treating once. We were more the “go to the church’s fall festival” type of family in the 90’s. If you were raised in a baptist church, I know you feel me!
But with kids, there’s no way I can let the holiday slip by without engaging in all the costumes and treats that come with it. I’ve never been the mom that lets her kids shovel handfuls of candy in their mouth every day, but Halloween has always kind of been the exception. Everybody (mom included) eats too much candy on Halloween, the kids beg for it every day after, and after several days of a piece here and there, the leftovers get tossed in the trash. Lookin at you, Whoppers.
This year is our first year navigating food allergies (which comes with a lot of new knowledge), and we don’t really have a choice but to do some things differently!
In Dr. Ana Maria Temple’s book Healthy Kids in an Unhealthy World, she discusses how every childhood milestone or rite of passage revolves around food. Think about it…cake at every party, earning pizza parties in school, candy on Easter and Halloween, even candy in your stockings. We use ice cream, candy, and cookies as treats and incentives. Imagine going to your next birthday party and seeing a veggie tray instead of a cake…we would riot! Ok, maybe not. But we’d probably want to. Food, particularly sweet food, has become such an integral part of childhood and we (I) struggle to veer away from the norm.
What I Know
Outside of plenty of anecdotal evidence in my own home, here’s some things I considered this year.
- On average, kids consume about 3 cups of sugar on Halloween.
- Most candy is filled with high fructose corn syrup which has been linked to inflammation, increased risk of obesity, and other illnesses.
- Almost all colored candy passed out on Halloween is colored using artificial food dyes. These food dyes are toxic additives that serve no real purpose other than to appeal to children. These dyes have also been shown to increase inflammation and (surprise, surprise) cause hyperactivity in children.
- Excess amounts of sugar can lower your immune system. Sugar is actually part of the reason we’re all so sick over the holidays. Lowered immune systems + more time indoors + holiday stress + dry air = a recipe for lots of sniffles.
I wish I could say that my family will avoid artificial dyes and man made sugars forever. That’s just not realistic. But based on what I know now, I can say that I will do my best to do things different. Know better, do better right? This is also right about the time that some of you might be squirming in the judgement you assume is laser pointed at you. I remember exactly how I felt when I heard a mom say that her kids had never had sugar before. HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?! But please believe me when I say that there truly is no judgement coming from me. We all do the best we can for our families in the season we’re in, with the money we have.
Simple Steps to Success
If you know you want Halloween to look a little different but you’re not sure where to start, here are some simple ways to change it up this year:
- Don’t let it be a candy free for all! 25% of kids eat all their candy before November 2! Decide before hand how much candy you want your kid to eat and how long they’ll have access to it. Donate leftovers!
- Make sure to feed your kids a healthy dinner! A balanced meal with protein, carbs, and fat will help set your child up for a better night rather than eating a bowl of cereal on your way out the door.
- Stick to chocolates over fruity candy. Not only are the sticky, chewy, hard candies worse on your our teeth but they’re filled with artificial dyes. I’m way more concerned with the dyes than I am the high fructose corn syrup.
- Make the night more than just trick or treating. Establish some family traditions that go beyond the scope of collecting candy! Play games, cook dinner together, have a costume contest!
- Make a trade! Offer for your child to trade in their candy (some or all) for some other fun experiences/gifts. A new book, a trip to their favorite place, a family movie night, etc.
- Replace the bad with the better. I went to Sprouts this week and purchased some better options for the kids and their cousins. These candies are better. But they are definitely still filled with sugar! And an organic label doesn’t mean it’s any better for their teeth. This haul cost about $25. Enough for 5 kids plus some to share with cousins and friends! And honestly, Halloween candy is so expensive these days! While going this route is definitely more expensive than traditional candy, it’s not by much!
Have the conversation WITH your kids! Come up with new ideas together and involve them in the plan. We’ve had many conversations in our home this year about what food does to our bodies, using food as fuel or medicine, and what to avoid and why. I was surprised at how quickly my kids adapted and how much they learned. A long time ago I heard Phylicia Masonheimer say that we (as parents) are the stewards of our children’s bodies. That has always stuck with me and it convicted me to take a harder look at the things I’m putting in my kids’ bodies day in and day out. And yes, even on Halloween.
*If you’re looking for an easy to understand book about kids’ health, I highly recommend Dr. Ana Maria Temple’s book Healthy Kids in an Unhealthy World! I read it back in May and it was incredibly east to read and full of helpful information!*
Wow, that was a great article and proud of how your taking on this challenge, I can’t imagine having to think all of those things through. We consume what’s easy and tasty instead of thinking what we should be eating and how it will effect us. Keep up the good work!