Tips for a Healthy Halloween

It’s almost time for the spookiest day of the year! For years, Halloween has received a bad rap for being the holiday that encourages children and their families to eat lots of candy; this does not have to be the case. Below are a few tips to help you and your family celebrate Halloween without having a major diet downfall!

• First and foremost, always eat dinner before venturing out with your children. Eating a protein based dinner will help to keep you focused on the main goal of spending time with your family and allow you to prevent the temptation of sweet treats.
• Set FUN exercise goals with your family to keep the Trick or Treating experience healthy and fun. Make a plan to walk to 12, 15, or 20 houses. Don’t miss this opportunity for you to get some great exercise in!
• If you are staying in for the night and passing out goodies, think of non-food alternatives to hand out to the Trick or Treaters. Great examples include: glow sticks, stickers, chewing gum, bubbles, or temporary tattoos. This will not only set a good example but will allow you to completely avoid bringing tempting sweets into your house. Remember you are in control of what you allow in your home!
• After Trick or Treating, allow your children to select 5 pieces of candy out of their trick or treating bag and trade the rest of the candy in for a fun toy or a pass to stay up 1 hour later on a school night! This will help to reduce the temptation of having candy in the house as well as preserve your children’s teeth!
• Feel free to donate the remaining candy to nursing homes or shelters!
• Avoid making eye contact with the candy aisle for at least 2 weeks after Halloween. Halloween candy is usually on sale during this time and can become more tempting when presented at a lower cost!
• Most importantly, enjoy the night with your family. If the temptation gets to you, it is ok, just make sure to start the day after Halloween off with a high protein breakfast to help you get back on track!