Tips for Staying Healthy on Halloween

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

GoLocalProv Lifestyle Team

 

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It's almost that time of year, time to dress up and head out and collect candy from friends, family and neighbors.

However, if your looking to enjoy Halloween but stay healthy at the same time, GoLocal is here to help you do that.

GoLocal has consulted Stop & Shop nutritionist Julie Hersey,MS,RD, LDN, for tips and recipes that will let you enjoy Halloween while staying healthy at the same time.

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Here are Hersey's Tips for Staying Healthy on Halloween:

Eat a nourishing dinner & hydrate before trick-or-treating: A group of hungry, dehydrated, sugar-intoxicated kids can be frightening for any parent! Plan to have a warm and hearty meal, like chili, before heading out. Be sure to take along a reusable water bottle to sip between houses!

Downsize candy collectors: Turn the trick around so your kids think they have more candy simply by downsizing their door-to-door collector. Use pails or yogurt containers instead of pillowcases.

Pass out non-food treats: Kids love non-candy treats like Halloween-themed pencils, pencil toppers, crayons, erasers, scary magnets or stickers, temporary tattoos, bubbles, jump ropes, whistles, fake money, glow-in-the-dark necklaces and bouncy balls that encourage activity.

Go mini or fun size: Smaller-sizes will help stretch calories, servings and dollars. Some good choices that are lower in fat and calories include: York Peppermint Patties, Kit Kat Bars, or even those with peanuts for a protein boost, like PayDay!

Keep candy out of sight: Out of sight, out of mind. If you’re lucky, they may even forget it is there! Teach kids that candy is a treat that can be enjoyed after all other nutrient needs for the day are met.

Choose whole grain-based treats: These include chocolate granola bars, trail mix, popcorn, small boxes of cereal, that are low in sugar but provide fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Find fruit-based treats: Look for treats that have a fruit base and no artificial flavors or colors. Think chocolate-covered raisins, 100% fruit leather, fig cookies, and small boxes of dried fruit are all great choices.

Balance treats with healthy pairings: Break up candy into smaller bites or supplement with a glass of water, low-fat milk, a piece of fruit or cheese.

 

 


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Related Slideshow: Expert Tips For Handling Kids’ Halloween Candy Craze

Psychologist Kate Roberts shares the following tips for helping kids handle the sugar assault on Halloween.

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Candy bag

Reduce the size of their candy bag or limit the number of houses they hit. 

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Make it routine

Allow a child to eat the candy until it’s gone as their “regular” intake of sweets, not in addition to the treats they take in daily. As part of this, you can also teach kids  to leave room for the candy, instead of eating huge meal and still going after the candy. 

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Create awareness

Help kids learn to regulate their own intake. Parents who micro manage intake may have a child who overcompensates by sneaking candy or over eating any chance he gets; whereas permitting kids to decide affords them the choice to say “no” and they will.” One way to do this now is to practice “Mindful eating”, before Halloween and the other food indulgent holidays! This means asking your children when they eat sweets why they are doing so and asking them to be aware of when they are full and when they are hungry. Use a 1-5 rating scale to help them quantify their hunger. Once they admit they want to eat when they are not hungry, it will help you to distract them and teach them how to do this as well.

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Change of pace

Allowing the kids to indulge right after trick or treat, the night of Halloween and then limit their intake to a certain number of pieces a day. For example, one with lunch, one with an after school snack and one after dinner.

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Helping obese kids

For overweight children, try to focus on certain type of candy, such as hard candy or candy like a lollipop that will last longer and tends to be lower in calories.

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Helping diabetic kids

Diabetic children also will want to have some candy. Parents of diabetic children report that if they practice moderation they have more cooperation, and less resistance and sneaking behavior then if they insist on total abstinence. This is the same for overweight children.

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The freezer trick

Some parents like to store candy in the freezer or fridge. When it’s colder, it's more difficult to eat candy fast. It also may be less tasty.

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Babysitter strategy

Recognize that when babysitters or indulgent relatives are caretakers, the candy is more likely to come out. Rather than convince these caregivers how it’s not good to overindulge, it is better to remove it when they are in charge, rather than delegate this decision to them. 

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Share

Share the candy by giving it to the troops abroad. Many local dentists have candy drop offs and send it out to troops.

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Swap it out

Have the Halloween Pumpkin or Witch replace every piece of candy left under the pillow with a quarter. The kids can make money instead of cavities!  Or if a child is very overweight, consider talking directly about candy being against the goal of weight reduction and buy it back with a goal of doing something active and fun with the money. 

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Behave yourself

Be a role model by limiting your own Halloween candy intake and eliminating leftover candy from your stash away immediately. 

 

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