It’s October now and that means all things pumpkin spice but…it also means Halloween is just around the corner. Although Halloween is such a fun night for the kids, all the sugar and candy can be somewhat of a nightmare for the parents who try so hard to instil healthy habits on their children.
Sugar consumption is a major cause of many chronic diseases, obesity, and behavioural problems, especially in children. The obesity rate worldwide is rising and the overconsumption of sugar is thought to be the main factor.
Consuming sugary foods (fructose) increases your hunger and desire for food more than glucose, which is the main sugar found in starchy foods. This is because fructose causes a resistance to the hormone leptin, which is an important hormone for regulating hunger and telling your body to stop eating. Additionally, consuming high levels of fructose leads to an increase in belly fat, which is associated with a risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
High sugar consumption has also been linked to an increased risk of acne. This is especially important for teenagers who are often the demographic that struggle with this. Foods with high sugar content cause blood sugar and insulin levels to spike dramatically, causing increased androgen secretion, oil production and inflammation, all playing a role in acne development.
This spike and drop in blood sugar and increased insulin levels contribute to fatigue throughout the day, drains energy and leads to behavioural problems. Over the long-term, it also causes insulin resistance.
Although it’s virtually impossible to avoid candy on Halloween, there are some ways to try and limit their consumption. Read below for some tips and tricks on how to minimize their treats.
Talk About Nutrition
Start including your kids in the conversation around health and nutrition. There is so much advertising aimed at children that it’s really important to teach them about nutrition from a young age and get them involved in the conversation. The more they know the more encouraged they will be to make healthy choices. This won’t happen overnight but is a process and it is best to start when they’re young.
Swap Candy for Cool Toys
Create a “Halloween Fairy” who comes if kids leave candy out and replace it with a fun little toy. Many dentists will also have initiatives where kids can trade their candy for toys. An added bonus is that they will be able to play with the toy for longer than their candy will last!
Encourage Healthier Options
Luckily, there are many healthier options on the market today then there was only a few years ago. Below are some ideas that aren’t quite as bad as the traditional chocolate bar.
- Annie’s Halloween Bunny Grahams
- UNREAL Chocolate Candy
- Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Smart Sweets Sweet Fish
- Wholesome Organic Delish Fish
Candy Alternatives
With a large number of kids suffering from allergies and food intolerances these days, including non-food alternatives is a great way to insure all kids can partake in the fun! Below are some ideas for offering an alternative to candy.
- Bubbles
- Crayons
- Colouring Books
- Individual packs of play dough
- Bouncy eyeballs
- Tattoos
- Glow in the dark toys
Happy Halloween!!
~Jamie