A few tips from a holistic nutritionist for a healthy Halloween!

1. Make sure that you and your kids have a good dinner before you head out trick or treating. This will prevent them (hopefully) from over indulging in their treats when they get home!

2. Choose a smaller trick or treat bag/container for your child vs. a pillow case and encourage them to only take one treat from each house.

3. If you are at home handing out candy, give one or a few treats vs a handful.

4. Make sure you check out the candy before you let your kids eat it. Expiration dates, punctured packaging, food allergens, etc.

5. Go for a good walk and get some exercise with the kids while they are out visiting houses.

6. Have a game plan for how much candy your children are allowed to have each day. Teach them about moderation, balance, and how to make healthy food choices.

7. Hand out something other than candy - mini colouring book/crayons, glow sticks or glow in the dark toys, bouncy balls, mini toys, play dough, stickers, tattoos, pencils/erasers, vampire teeth…get creative!

8. Hand out healthier treats - mini bags of animal crackers/crackers, pretzels, Skinny Pop, unsweetened applesauce, granola bars, Made Good treats, Fruit To Go, etc.

9. Don’t buy halloween candy weeks in advance! If it’s in the house it’s more temptation for you and your kids. Wait until as close to the 31st as you can.

10. Don’t buy more candy than you need and get something that you don’t enjoy so you are less likely to indulge! Keep it out of sight.

11. Have your kids sit down and make two piles when they get home - one with treats they like and want to eat and the other with treats they don’t like that they can give away.

12. If you have candy leftover or that your children don’t enjoy, take them into work the next day or drop them off at a homeless shelter, seniors home, children hospital or some other place that would appreciate it.

Enjoy in Moderation!

For more tips and tricks on how to eat well and lead a healthy lifestyle, contact Steph, registered holistic nutritionist, to learn more about Thrive’s nutrition programs.