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On Halloween, let children indulge

October 21, 2007 12:36 am

I'VE ALWAYS been a pro-candy dietitian. This Halloween, though, I'm making some changes. Never fear, neighborhood children, I will not be torturing you with healthy treats like packets of oatmeal. Nor am I recommending that people stop doling out candy.

But I am mixing some toys in among the candy bars. I'm adding toys in honor of my neighbors who have diabetes, food allergies, or who, gosh darn it, just like toys.

I also have some ideas for parents who are concerned about their child's weight or other health problems, or who wonder just how much Halloween candy they should let their children eat. But first, the toys.

Adding toys to the treat bowl is a big change for me, as I am an admitted chocoholic. I have always bought loads of the gooey stuff to give out to children for Halloween--and later happily eaten the leftover chocolates.

But recently, I read that when trick-or-treaters got to choose from two plates--one of candy and one of toys--half the children chose toys. And I aim to please.

So, I went to my local craft and dollar stores, which offer lots of fun, relatively inexpensive things such as whistles, bouncing balls, glittery pencils, colorful stickers, crayons, and temporary tattoos of pirates and witches.

I'll still buy some chocolate, too, and let the children choose.

Every year, parents wrestle with the perennial question: How much should I let my kids eat? If your child doesn't have food allergies or diabetes, I say, let 'er rip!

On Halloween night, allow the kids to eat as much as they want. If they eat themselves sick, they'll learn a valuable lesson about the consequences of over-eating. And one night of excess calories won't cause any lasting damage. (In the days afterward, giving kids a couple of pieces after meals can be a good option.)

For children who have diabetes or food allergies, however, unbridled access to the candy could be dangerous. As always, parents need to help children with diabetes count carbohydrates. They can work small amounts of candy into meal plans that day.

With food allergies, parents can help children read labels to make sure the candy doesn't contain peanuts or whatever they're allergic to. Unfortunately, most chocolate is contaminated because most chocolate factories also process nuts.

This brings me to my next thought--what about leftover candy that your kids don't like or can't eat? The day after Halloween, consider offering to buy back unwanted candy for a few cents a piece.

Even perfectly healthy kids like this idea--they can use the money they "earn" to buy a new toy, book, movie ticket, music or whatever. Also, this lets children with diabetes or allergies get rid of their candy and still have fun.

Parents can donate candy they buy back to a charity or just throw it out.

If days pass and you still have candy left in the house that your youngster can't bear to part with, consider keeping the treats out of sight in the pantry. You might offer a handful of candy in place of the child's desserts at dinnertime.

I don't think it's necessary to take candy away from children who are overweight--in fact, it may do more harm than good. Research shows that young girls whose mothers outlawed junk foods were more likely to binge on those foods when parents were away.

Instead of banning candy, consider treating overweight children like everyone else in the family so they learn moderation, not deprivation or excess.

It goes without saying that it's especially important to provide balanced meals the day of Halloween--skipping meals could provoke binge-eating after trick-or-treating.

Turn off the TV at mealtimes so everyone can enjoy the meal and can stop eating when they are satisfied, not overstuffed. And as usual, encourage children to play, be physically active and to brush and floss their teeth.

Halloween comes only once a year and can be lots of fun.

Jennifer Motl welcomes reader questions via her Web site, brighteat ing.com, or mailed to Nutrition, The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401.