It’s the Most Sweet-Eating Time of the Year
Candy isn’t just for Halloween. Here’s how to keep kids from sugar overload this holiday season
If you think the volume of sweets your child brings home at Halloween is frightening, just take measure of the rest of “candy season.”
From the box of chocolates guests bring to the Thanksgiving meal to the Christmas candy canes or Hanukkah chocolate coins, your child can be getting a scary sugar overload.
Banning sugar for the rest of the year to compensate isn’t a realistic option, and may actually backfire.
“The more we take candy away or take it off limits, the more we want it,” says Lara Field, MS, registered dietitian at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
However, candy consumption doesn’t have to be a holiday battle. You can help your child take a reasonable approach to sweets, say nutrition experts.
Moderation – not a typical childhood trait – is the key, and you can teach it.
To start, sit down with your child and sort through the candies and snacks coming into your home.
Let your child pick out his favorites (see sidebar for tips on the leftovers) and follow that with a discussion about how to incorporate candy into his diet.
For example, you could agree to add one small piece of candy to the lunch bag or have one small piece after dinner, says Karin Richards, director of the Health Science Program at the University of the Sciences, Philadelphia.
As an alternative you could limit the number of days the candy will be available.
“Maybe make it 30 days of treats until Thanksgiving [or whatever period you choose as a countdown],” Field says.
Keeping candy out of sight may keep it off your child’s mind.
“If you don’t see it, you don’t think about it 24/7,” says Richards, who also advises parents to keep the sweets out of their children’s rooms.
You may think your child will eventually experience candy fatigue. Dream on, says Richards, who has a four-year old.
Instead, use creative ways to share or stretch sweets throughout the holiday season.
Here are some tips for working through the candy stash.
• Chop up candy and freeze. Use the pieces to top low-fat ice cream or fold into cookie batter, Richards says.
• Decorate an art project such as a gingerbread house with candy pieces, Field says.
• Donate unopened candies to an organization that distributes food.
Helping kids make healthier choices also is key when the sweets are coming at them from every direction.
Choose candy and snacks that contain a little fat and protein, if you have that option.
“A candy with peanuts provides a little satiety,” Field says.
When you’re the shopper, opt for individually wrapped bite-size candies, Richards says.
“A bite-size candy bar has 55 calories; a full-size one is 200 calories,” she says.
You can also switch to single-serving bags of pretzels or fruit bars.
Bev Bennett, a veteran food writer and editor, is the author of "Dinner for Two: A Cookbook for Couples" and "30-Minute Meals for Dummies"
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