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Some sleight-of-hand tricks to cut down on Halloween candy

October 13th, 2009, 6:00 am · 14 Comments · posted by Landon Hall

halloweencandy1This is the time of year when nutritionists come out of the woodwork and advise parents how to offer healthy alternatives to the fat- and sugar-laden treats we’ve all wolfed for generations.

They’re fighting a losing battle, so I recommend another tactic this Halloween: misdirection.

My personal favorite is the mini-Kit Kat bar, and I’ll do anything to get one. But as a health reporter, I know better. And as the parent of a 3-year-old daughter (not pictured above; that’s someone else) who is every bit as devious as me when it comes to finagling a sweet before (and often instead of) dinner, I know I must get smarter this time around to make sure she doesn’t overdo it. After all, that might start her down the path to murder and mayhem, as this study clearly shows.

I applaud the pediatricians, health experts and even food-makers who are promoting less-sugary snacks. But parents have to read the labels closely. We received a couple packages of Surf Sweets Fruity Bears, along with literature promoting the inclusion of organic fruit juice and “100 percent of the RDA of antioxidant Vitamin C.” After sampling both bags in their entirety, I read the label and saw that each serving (a 2.75-ounce bag has two servings) contains 23 grams of sugar. The American Heart Association recommends that kids get no more than 12 grams a day.

Dr. Margaret Lewin, Medical Director of Cinergy Health, made the media rounds recently to issue recommendations for kids and adults alike to avoid gorging on candy. She says you should buy treats “that you don’t particularly like, making it easier to resist.”

This is a little like buying a Geo as your next used car, to ensure that it won’t get stolen.

Lewin did have a few good suggestions, and combined with a few other tips I stole from others, here are my recommendations:

  • Lie. “There is no Halloween candy in the house. We have apples for dessert, and eat them now, because they no longer give them out at Halloween.”
  • Toys work. It’s amazing how much use a cheap spider-ring, decorated pencil, glow stick or bubble-container will get among the costumed crowd.
  • Enforce the one-treat-per-house rule. And when the booty is poured out onto the floor later at home, tell them they can have one more, then it’s time for bed. They can have some more tomorrow.
  • After bedtime, eat a few yourself (for testing), then toss the rest. Or leave it on your neighbor’s doorstep.
  • Think about turning Halloween into more of a family-activity holiday: Carve pumpkins, tell spooky stories, check out local events to attend … anything to take the focus off sweets.

Let’s eat safely out there, everyone.

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 14 Comments

  • Landon Hall says:
    October 13, 2009 at 9:12 am

    After I posted this, my wife suggested Play-Doh as a treat that could be dropped into costumed goblins’ bags on Halloween night. What are some other alternatives to candy that you’ll be offering this year?

  • jillsifer says:
    October 13, 2009 at 10:35 am

    Obviously, a general move toward healthier eating is a great idea. But can we not leave Halloween alone? It’s already bruised and battered by religious objections–can’t the remaining celebrants decide for themselves how much candy is appropriate for their kids? Does “crunchy granola Halloween” REALLY need to enter the public discourse? Obviously, no decent parent is going to allow a five-year-old to eat 17 full-sized chocolate bars in one night, but can’t we retain just a few guilty pleasures?

    • Landon Hall says:
      October 13, 2009 at 11:05 am

      That’s a great point, Jill. I think health experts use Halloween as an opportunity to educate about nutrition, and the more information out there the better. I love Halloween, but increasingly, other holidays are becoming nearly as snacktacular — Valentine’s Day, Easter, Arbor Day (OK, maybe not the last one). And for the record, I think only parents should be allowed to eat 17 full-sized chocolate bars in a night. It’s just one of the many sacrifices we make for our kids.

      • jillsifer says:
        October 13, 2009 at 11:47 am

        “I think only parents should be allowed to eat 17 full-sized chocolate bars in a night.”

        First, thanks for taking my comments in the spirit intended–a mild complaint, not the first shot in a horrible shouting match.

        Next, I totally agree with you that we, the parents, need to take one for the team. To that end, I will do the right thing and eat all 17 of those full-sized Hershey bars–or whatever–that end up falling into my son’s possession that night!

        And finally, whatsamatta, you don’t like Arbor Day cookies? ;-)

  • Pinky22 says:
    October 13, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    Where were the Arbor Day desserts this year, I didn’t see them!

  • geegee says:
    October 13, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    I always buy Halloween candy that I know no one in the house will eat (the only one who complains about that is my husband. The kids don’t care.) And in terms of handing it out, it’s one piece per customer.

    As for what comes home after trick or treating, I’ve always allowed the kids to pick a couple of favorite treats out of the bags, and then they are allowed to “buy” a small toy with the remainder of the candy. One year, in an unprecedented showing of cooperation, they pooled their candy for a DVD they both wanted. We subsequently donate the remaining candy and everyone is happy. And healthy.

  • hunterr83 says:
    October 13, 2009 at 3:48 pm

    I got a better idea than having to get creative with excuses or alternative treats. Get an empty basket and set it on a chair or stool in your driveway or right outside the front door. Place a sign next to it saying, “Please take only one. Happy Halloween!” Now, here’s the fun part: don’t put any candy in the basket. Make sure there are no people walking by when you do this. Also, if you plan on putting the basket out early, maybe put in a couple candies, otherwise, the early trick-or-treaters will see the empty basket and figure out that it’s too early in the day for enough people to have come by to take all the candy and that the basket was probably empty to begin with. They’ll probably get mad and egg or toilet-paper the house.

    : )

  • cin says:
    October 13, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    I agree, let them eat candy. It is a HOLIDAY for a reason. We eat healthy in our house 90% of the time. Let them choose some and give the rest to Orangwood Childrens home (our school collects it and takes it to them) Soon, the politically correct crazies will leave us with nothing-enjoy it before there is no fun left in this world!!

  • Jacqueline says:
    October 13, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    I’m 46 and survived many Halloween candy overloads. It’s part of the fun being a kid! Let them eat sweets! They are going to live people!!

  • HanksNews says:
    October 13, 2009 at 4:27 pm

    I have it…if they want to tax sodas…tax the candy as gifts….watch parents throw out candy as fast as you can say “Trick or Treat”!……let kids have Halloween….candy police come out another day…

  • Rhena says:
    October 14, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    My husband and I decided that we don’t really enjoy having trick or treaters at our house — it tends to disrupt our own preparations for going out. We’re debating handing out apples or pennies — not for the general health of our community but to keep the kids from coming back next year.

    • Landon Hall says:
      October 15, 2009 at 7:47 am

      When I was a single chap, and living in a house on a cul-de-sac in a suburb of Portland with two other slovenly bachelors, we all hatched plans to be elsewhere for Halloween, because none of us had bought sackfuls of candy. Matt went to see “Seven” (which was terrifying), Mark went to work, and I huddled before the TV, with the lights off, with a blanket over me and the TV, watching “The Simpsons.” Knock-knock. No answer. Thankfully, I’m an upstanding member of the community now.

      • Landon Hall says:
        October 15, 2009 at 7:48 am

        But Rhena, pennies are a good treat. Really. Especially if they’re the collector’s items from the U.S. mint. Old buttons and marbles are nice, too.