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Our Blog: October 9, 2019

How to Have a Healthy Halloween

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  • Fill up before trick-or-treating
  • If kids are full before they go trick-or-treating, then they will eat fewer pieces of candy afterwards.
  • Hand out non-sugary foods and toys, such as:
    • Animal crackers
    • Granola bars
    • Whole grain cheddar cheese crackers
    • Pretzels
    • Apples
    • Tangerines
    • Fruit leathers
    • Trail mix of whole grain cereals
    • Pencils
    • Erasers
    • Stickers
    • Tattoos
    • Glow sticks
    • Play-Doh containers
  • Trick-or-Treat and Exercise
    • Encourage children to walk from house to house instead of driving them.
    • Parents can even encourage siblings or friends to wear pedometers or activity meters and start a friendly competition for who can be the most active while they are collecting candy.
  • Take a small bag
    • It will get filled after going to a just few houses, but your child will still have that feeling of abundance that’s part of the holiday.
  • Steer Kids Away From Stickies, Sours, and Suckers
    • Treats that are sticky and sour, or sour ones that stay in your mouth for a long time, are double-trouble. Chocolate is a better option. It melts, so the time it spends in contact with teeth is minimal.
    • Other tooth-friendly treats are sugar-free gum, popcorn, pretzels, and crackers.
  • Serve a Candy Chaser
    • Drinking water helps to rinse some of the sugary treats off the teeth until a more thorough cleaning is possible.
    • Or give your child a little cheese (like mozzarella string cheese) and a small apple. It's a good, blood-sugar-balancing snack to help with post-candy recovery.
  • Trade It In
    • Have your child sort through the candy and pick their favorites, then get rid of the rest. Some dental practices will offer a candy buyback program, where children can cash in on their hard work.
  • Stash the Loot
    • Store the candy you do keep in the cabinets, freezer, or pantry, where it won’t be top of mind. Adults and kids are more likely to mindlessly munch on foods that are kept in plain view. 
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