Five tips for parents on how to handle Halloween candy consumption

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For many kids, Halloween is their favourite holiday. Costumes! Decorations! And of course, candy.

For parents, Halloween comes with unique challenges. How much candy should you let your child eat? What’s the best way to manage your child’s treasure trove of candy? Are some sweets better than others? We talk to experts to get their advice on tricks to deal with all the treats.

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Free-for-all 

Pediatric registered nutritionist Sarah Remmer recommends letting your child enjoy their treats without parental micro-managing — at least on Halloween night, and even the next day or the day after.

“If you let kids have free rein, it helps them to feel trusted in exploring their candy on their own and without limitation,” said Remmer, explaining that when you restrict candy or any food, kids will just want it more. Letting them have free access to the candy reduces the allure.

This strategy might end in a tummy ache from eating too much candy, she acknowledged, but that’s part of the learning process, teaching kids self-regulation in the future. 

“The goal is to nurture your child’s relationship with food long-term. This is much, much more important than the amount of candy they eat on or around Halloween.”

And for parents worried that so much sugar will make their kids crazy and unmanageable, Remmer said that’s a misconception. Research has shown there is no link between the two. It is likely all the other things that come with Halloween — the fun, costumes, friend — that make them hyper.

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Dole it out

Not all experts agree with a hands-off approach. Vancouver registered dietitian Ali J. Chernoff said Halloween is a good time to teach kids about nutrition and portion control.

“Do we believe in good and bad foods? Absolutely not,” she said. “But at the end of the day, candy is a treat. There’s no nutritional value.”

She recommends laying out their Halloween candy stash after coming home and removing the treats your child doesn’t want. If your child came back with an overflowing bucket, they may be persuaded to donate some of them — “a teachable moment about sharing,” said Chernoff

Then, depending on your kids’ ages you can decide together what’s a reasonable way to handle the remaining candy.

For younger kids, parents may want to consider picking out two treats once a week, said Chernoff (on Halloween night they can eat a bit more). Then the candies get put away and are brought out perhaps once a week to let the child choose a couple.

Switch witch

This is a strategy that’s been gaining traction for a few years. When the kids are asleep, the Switch Witch — the Halloween version of the Tooth Fairy — takes some of their candy and replaces it with another treat, like a toy.

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Some experts are wary of the Switch Witch because it may send the underlying message that candy is bad and needs to be taken away. For some parents, however, it’s a way to whittle down the stash. This strategy might work better for younger kids who are yet protective of their candies and would love to get a visit from a good witch bearing gifts.

For kids with allergies

In Canada, about 600,000 kids under 18 have food allergies, which can create a scary situation this time of year. But it shouldn’t stop parents and kids from missing out on the joy of trick-or-treating.

For younger kids who can’t read ingredient lists yet, “before you leave, make sure they know none of the candies are available for eating immediately,” said Chernoff.

When they get back home, parents should go through the bins and swap candies containing allergens for allergen-free versions. Some companies like Yum Earth and Enjoy Life make their treats in allergen-free facilities. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has a list of candies that are free of the most common allergens — milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts, sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish.

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What does the dentist say? 

Not all candies are created equal, says the Canadian Dental Association.

The risk of getting tooth decay increases when teeth are exposed to sugar for long periods of time or if they get stuck between teeth. Top offenders are gummies, chewy candies, hard candies and lollipops. Candies that dissolve quickly, like chocolate, are a better choice.

“By avoiding certain types of candy, drinking water after enjoying treats, and brushing and flossing regularly, you can help keep cavities at bay this Halloween and beyond,” said association president Dr. Heather Carr.

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