Halloween Ideas: Handling Sugar Highs

Watching your kids on a sugar high after a party or after eating too many sweets can be as frustrating as it is hard to calm them down! Here's an idea—have them drink plenty of water to dilute the amount of sugar in the blood and help them in settling down.

You might also try establishing rules to help prevent your child from overeating candies, cakes, sweetened beverages, etc., before a party or event. Talk to your child about limiting sweets a day or two before the event. (If you plan the day of the event, your child may be too excited about the party to pay attention!) On the day of the event, you can have your child reiterate the rules to you as a reminder. You can also role-play, choosing something other than candy to teach your child that there are other food options out there.

Below is a sample idea to discuss with your child before Halloween night. Just remember to go over the plan of action one to two days before trick-or-treating.

• Tell your child to not eat anything if it's not in a sealed package. We don't know where it's been and that can be dangerous! Don't scare your child, but remind him that foods need to be safe.
• To prevent your child from binging on trick-or-treat night, tell him that once the trick-or-treating is over, you'll separate the candy into "favorite" and "non-favorite" piles.
• Once the two piles are made, throw out the non-favorite candies (or donate them). Take the favorite pile and divide them into two pieces per day for up to two weeks. Candy can be stored in the freezer for freshness.

If you're expecting trick-or-treaters at your door, you might consider providing nonedible treats (e.g., fun pens or toys), to help other children from getting too much candy.

Just remember, as a parent, you are the role model. So if you are binging on the candy, your child will see it! Show them how candy does fit into your diet, but also show them how to control the amount you consume. Also, encourage physical activity if they happen to take in too many calories in a day.