Halloween is such a fun holiday! The costumes, the decorations, and yes, the treats! Especially when they can be so creepy and creative. Even for the most lenient parents, the explosion of Halloween candy after a night of trick-or-treating can feel tough to manage. You may be asking yourself:
- Should I set limits on how much candy my kids can eat?
- Or should I let them decide on their own?
- How to handle them once all that sugar hits their system?
And then comes the question of, “What in the world do I do with all this candy?” Otherwise known as, “How can I stop eating it?!?”
Here are a few ways you and your kids can enjoy Halloween without mounds of candy taking over your home.
#1 Donate Your Sweets
When you realize you’ve got way more candy than your family needs, guess what? There are organizations nearby that will gladly take the excess treats off your hands.
Companies like Operation Gratitude (based in California) and Soldiers’ Angels (based in Texas) will donate your candy to veterans, first responders, and deployed troops. Did you know, Soldiers’ Angels has a local drop off point at Walton High School!
In fact, there are quite a few Atlanta-area groups that can help you out! Try asking around at:
- Murphy-Harpst Treatment Center in Cedartown
- Claudia’s House on Hollowell Pkwy.
- Must Ministries in Marietta
Ronald McDonald House Charities, a non-profit that supports families with ill children, also accepts candy at the local chapter level. Other sweet places to donate are your local Marietta food banks, your local fire station, and Marietta shelters, such as the CCYA that we often support. (Let us know about what you’d like to donate, and Claire will make sure it gets there). You could even ask if your local senior living home accepts candy donations.
This option also teaches your children about the importance of giving back and helping others.
#2 The Switch Witch Swaps Your Halloween Candy
The Switch Witch is known for whisking away tooth-rotting candy and leaving a small toy or book in its place. Like the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus, the Switch Witch only comes while your kids are asleep. Encourage your kids to leave a basket full of candy outside their door for the Switch Witch and see what special prize awaits them in the morning!
#3 Smack Down Cravings for Halloween Candy
If you *just can’t* resist the sweets, consider a supplement, perfectly suited for the task. No herb may be better for this than Mediherb Gymnema sylvestre.
This herb has been used in ancient Ayurveda for thousands of years. Its power lies in making sugary foods less appealing. In addition to signaling the pancreas and the brain that no more sugar is needed, Gymnema tablets can temporarily block the sugar receptors on your tongue, helping you steer clear of that sugary drink or snack food. It’s our favorite supplement to beat sugar cravings!
Try this trick: suck on a Gymnema tablet for about 30 seconds, then swallow it with water. Then go try a bite of your favorite candy. Let us know what it tastes like! (ha ha ha ha!) 🙂
#4 Don’t Forget Good Oral Hygiene
No matter how much candy your kids eat, make sure they practice good dental hygiene. You don’t want them going to bed with sugar on their teeth! This becomes especially important this time of year when sugary treats are on a constant rotation through school and home. Remember – sugar suppresses the immune system! Sugar takes up your vitamin C receptors, feeds the bad kinds of yeast and bacteria you don’t want, and contributes to getting sick more often. So, remember…
- Encourage everyone in your household to floss once a day, and brush their teeth twice a day.
- Keep the bristles fresh and clean by replacing toothbrushes every three months.
- Prevent cavities and strengthen their teeth – and yours – by adding chewable Calcifood wafers or Bio-Dent tablets (you can chew these, too) to your daily routine.
#5 Stay Safe and Alert
They say Halloween has the worst traffic and the worst risk for pedestrian accidents compared to any other day of the year. So, keep in mind that lots of parents will be leaving work early and will be in a rush. Plus, kids will be excited and proably hopped up already on soda and treats. They will be distracted by their friends and less likely to look both ways when crossing the street. On top of that, many costumes include masks, so you also have decreased vision and hearing.
So, as you leave work, take your time and pay extra attention. You never know if an unexpected little monster might cross your path!
You Can Do This!
There are many ways to handle Halloween candy overload. Try a few of these simple ideas and see what kinds of fun you and your little ones have.
May you and your family have a safe, fun, and healthy Halloween!
