Have a cheerful Halloween by balancing out the sugar in a conscious means together with your Halloween sweet bowl.
Happy Halloween! As Halloween approaches, mother and father’ considerations mount over methods to stability that vast trick or deal with bag full of Halloween sweet. I perceive all about this, as I’m a mom, and you’ll see my son Nicholas’ Halloween sweet stash within the picture beneath (though he’s now not a child!). You don’t wish to deprive your kids of all of their Halloween sweet candy treats, however you additionally don’t wish to set them up for poor diet, grumpy temper swings, and decrease educational focus in the event that they’re over-doing on sugar. So, I sat down with a few of my favourite registered dietitian nutritionists to ask for his or her prime suggestions for coping with Halloween sweet overload, in addition to managing Halloween trick or treating evening. Read on for his or her greatest recommendation for balancing Halloween sweets in a joyful, conscious means.
5 Nutritionist Tips for Balancing Halloween Candy
1. Practice Mindful Moderation.
“I think a great tip is to remind families that Halloween is a fun filled time that should be enjoyed in moderation. I am a big proponent of the Teal Pumpkin Project. Every year I take pride in being the neighbor that passes out the nonfood item that ends up being the biggest hit! This year: glow in the dark straws! I think it’s important to remember even nonfood items are perfect gifts that all kids can enjoy regardless of their dietary needs and it breaks up the candy too for mom and dad!” says Elizabeth Shaw, MS, RDN, CLT of Shaw’s Simple Swaps.
2. Stock Your House with Less “Addictive” Treats.
“My best tip is, if you are going to hand out candy to your neighborhood trick-or-treaters then purchase them as close to Halloween as possible (so they don’t stare you in the face for a few days or weeks) and to purchase candy or chocolate that you and your kids don’t like. I dislike taffy and both my children and I won’t go near them–those are the treats that I will try to purchase. That way I automatically remove any junk food temptations from the house,” says Toby Amidor, MS, RD.
3. Dole it Out.
“Have your child sort through her treats, choose a few to eat on Halloween and one or two for each day for the next month. Then donate the rest, or bring to your office so that you get it out of the house!” says Amy Gorin, MS, RDN.
4. Focus on Healthy Foods First.
“Have a bowl of grapes, baby carrots, or cherry tomatoes to munch on during the trick-or-treat event (especially if you are the one passing out the candy). And before going out trick-or-treating, fill up on a healthy, delicious snack with protein and carbs. Your temptation for sweets will be reduced if you already have a full belly. A nice snack includes hummus with carrots, string cheese with fruit, trail mix,” says Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN.
“The families in my neighborhood usually get together for pre trick-or-treat appetizers, and I love to serve hummus w/ crackers and veggies, for a healthy, plant protein packed snack. Yes, my kids will be eating candy later, but at least I know they started the night out with a little nourishment in their bellies,” says EA Stewart, RDN at Spicy RD Nutrition.
“Halloween can be a challenging time for parents to feed children healthfully. As a mother and a dietitian, I focus on what healthy foods I can make enjoyable for the night, rather than what I should be saying no to. Before sending my kids out trick-or-treating, I fill them up with protein packed, fiber-rich fun foods. Another important Halloween party tip is serving plenty of water, kids need to leave for the night well hydrated. Carrying along a water bottle is a good idea too. Leave the sweet treats to the collections of goodies they’ll receive. Let your kids know they can enjoy a few of their favorite candies when they arrive home,” says Kathy Siegel, MS, RDN, CDN.
5. Don’t Worry Too Much.
“Overeating one day won’t make or break your long-term health. If you over-indulge in the Halloween candy, remind yourself that it¹s okay to eat extra added sugar or sweets once and awhile. Simply return to your usual eating habits the next day by starting with a healthy, balanced breakfast. Plan on following your usual eating pattern the next day. Anticipation of food restriction the next day sets you up for over-eating that day or night (“After all, if I’m never going to let myself eat this again, I might as well eat as much as I can now.”) Remind your self that restrictive diets don’t work in the long term,” says McKenzie Hall, RDN.
For more healthy plant-based treats, try a few of my favorites:
Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie
Pumpkin Spice Energy Balls
Classic Vegan Fresh Pumpkin Pie
Vegan Pumpkin Bread with Pumpkin Seeds
Vegan Cowboy Cookies