Handling Halloween Candy Overload

Halloween is such a fun holiday. The costumes, the decorations, and yes, the treats! 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 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 the holiday without the mounds of candy ruling your home.

Donate Your Sweets

While you may not want your children to have a ton of candy, there are organizations 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. 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, and Marietta shelters, such as the CCYA that we often support. 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.

Let the Switch Witch Swap 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 and see what special prize awaits them in the morning.

Reduce Sugar Cravings for Halloween Candy

If you can’t resist the sweets, consider lessening the cravings. No herb may be better for this than 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! 🙂

Don’t Forget Good Oral Hygiene

No matter how much candy your kids eat, make sure they practice good dental hygiene. This becomes especially important around this time of year when the consumption of sugary treats are on the rise. Remember – increased sugar has a suppressive effect on the immune system! Sugar takes up your vitamin C receptors and contributes to getting sick more often. So…

• 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 to your daily health routine.

Stay Safe and Healthy

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 loved ones have a safe, fun, and healthy Halloween!