{"id":6874,"date":"2020-10-29T11:48:46","date_gmt":"2020-10-29T15:48:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/?p=6874"},"modified":"2022-10-25T11:57:53","modified_gmt":"2022-10-25T15:57:53","slug":"halloweencandytips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/2020\/10\/halloweencandytips\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Tips for Managing Halloween Candy This Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

So this Halloween is going to be a little different huh?\u00a0 Here in Toronto we are being advised to avoid trick or treating, which I knew the kids would be really bummed about.\u00a0 So we have a plan B that I feel good about. I’m going to share how we are doing Halloween this year if you need inspiration.<\/p>\n

Keep reading for my top tips for managing Halloween candy – especially during a pandemic!<\/p>\n

COVID aside, Halloween presents a few other challenges – especially for our little sugar-obsessed monsters (I mean kiddos).\u00a0 There’s a reason why children gush over all things sweet, sugar-y and carb-y.\u00a0 Heck I can name a few adults who enjoy a sweet thing or two.\u00a0 Am I right?\u00a0 Sugar is tasty!<\/p>\n

Plus these foods provide quick fuel without much effort (thanks to the glucose we get from those refined sugars). Clearly sugar isn’t something we want our kids to be consuming on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

\"Healthy<\/p>\n

So why are we flooding kids with candy on October 31st every year?<\/h3>\n

First of all, Halloween doesn’t have to be ALL about the candies. Here are some healthier Halloween options <\/a>I’ve used I previous years.\u00a0 My girls don’t get chocolate nor candy every day or every week.\u00a0 However, I believe there’s a balance when it comes to what we feed our children. Don’t fall off your chair when I say this, but there is a place for sugar and sweets…and Halloween treats.<\/p>\n

In a world where we have easy access to sugar (and kids get exposure at school, playdates, etc) it’s really hard to avoid.\u00a0 Of course, I would be hands off if I lived on an island with no other humans.\u00a0 But that’s not reality (and it would be pretty lonely!).<\/p>\n

Deprivation can present challenges down the road if a child feels they have restricted access to certain foods (like sweets).\u00a0 That then backfires when they are no longer attached at our hip and have the freedom to make their own food choices.<\/p>\n

Setting up a healthy relationship with food starts now – and even on Halloween.<\/h3>\n

So while my older girls are dressed up as the Descendants, and the littlest one will be the cutest Minnie Mouse ever (according to her mom), we embrace Halloween for what it is.\u00a0 Let me show you<\/p>\n

My Top Tips for Managing Halloween candy (especially during a pandemic)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u200b\u200b\"Tips<\/span>

#1 – HOST A SCAVENGER HUNT<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
The kids have had so many things taken from this this year – being pulled out of school for months, no playdates or after school programs.\u00a0 I’m not taking Halloween from them too.\u00a0 Truthfully, all they want is costumes, candy, and connection.\u00a0 So that’s what they are going to get.<\/div>\n
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If the weather is decent, we’ll take them for a stroll down the street to check out all the decorations (our neighbourhood takes Halloween to the next level which is super fun).\u00a0 Then we will let them run around the park and search for treats (which I’m going to hide in a designated area so there’s no interference with other kids).<\/div>\n
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Easy peezy.\u00a0 Our family will get some physical activity, the kids get their candy and costumes, and the parents get to sit back and relax (hopefully with a warm cider in hand).<\/div>\n
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If the park is too packed, or the weather goes sour, we will take the scavenger hunt indoors.<\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/div>\n

#2 – LET THEM GO TO TOWN\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Yup, I let the kids go nuts on their candy and eat as much as they like.\u00a0 It sounds like bad parenting, I know!\u00a0 But by the time they get indoors, take off their costumes, sort out their candy, then re-sort it five more times, \u200bthey don’t end up eating a ton.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/div>\n

Before we started going “free-for-all” with candy, this was what happened…<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n