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Skip the Sugar Trap this Halloween

By Britni Thomas, RD, LD
October 28, 2014

Halloween_CandyBucket-CandyCorn.jpg

The holiday season is fast approaching, which means lots of sweets and treats. Halloween can be the ultimate sugar trap. Sugar on Halloween is even more frightening than the ghosts and monsters walking around. Just one Snickers® Mini contains 18 grams of sugar (4.5 teaspoons), and we all know you’re not going to stop at just one. You may want to double think grabbing a handful of candy corn every time you walk by the candy corn bowl. Ten measly pieces of candy corn contains 17 grams of sugar (4 teaspoons). To bypass the sugar trap this Halloween here are some healthy ideas for you and your children.

Skip the candy handouts and opt for non-food items

Keeping candy in the house may be too tempting. It’s likely that you will eat a piece of Halloween candy even if you have good intentions of only handing them out to kids. Then, before you know it that one piece leads to many more pieces! Instead of candy, hand out fun items like pencils with designs, mini bottles of bubbles, stickers, Play-Doh®, or glow sticks. This is a much healthier option for you and the children.

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Ditch the break room

This time of year, workplaces can be big temptations with tons of candy and treats in break rooms and at your co-worker’s desk. Skip the temptation and go for a walk. Or, if you like to bake, make Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars and bring them to work to share. Another option is to put together some apples with almond butter and cinnamon to bring to the break room.

Halloween_BowlOfChili.jpgFill your kids up before they go out trick or treating

Before you turn them loose for the evening, make sure your kids eat a balanced dinner with protein, healthy carbohydrates and healthy fats. They will be much less likely to devour their candy. Fall is the perfect season for a hearty bowl of chili with full fat sour cream or avocado on top.

Trade in the candy

To prevent you and your children from overeating candy, find a Halloween candy buy-back program. This is when a dentist buys back your children’s treats in exchange for coupons, toothbrushes, and sometimes even cash. Another option is to allow your children to trade in their candy for a gift card of their choice. This doesn’t mean that you can eat the candy they “sell” you—just get rid of it!

Have a plan; don’t let Halloween be an excuse to get away from your healthy habits!

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About the author

Britni once struggled with insomnia, acne and regular migraines that would force her to retreat to a dark room for relief. She tried several different approaches to feel better before she realized her diet was the culprit and changed her eating to a more balanced approach. As a result, her insomnia and acne are gone, and she rarely has migraines. Britni is a registered and licensed dietitian through the Minnesota Board of Nutrition and Dietetics. She received her B.S. in dietetics from the University of St. Thomas and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Iowa. She has experience in nutrition counseling, leading seminars and motivating clients of all ages to make changes.

View all posts by Britni Thomas, RD, LD

Tags

Halloween, High-sugar foods, Holiday

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