Kids Eating Halloween Candy Too Fast? What to Do

Kids eating Halloween candy too fast? Tums and tummy-aches becoming a big part of your yearly Halloween celebration? Kids waking up with Halloween candy hangovers? What can you do? You don't want to spoil their fun, but enough is enough. Cavities and weight gain are real issues. What can you do to keep kids from eating their Halloween goodies too fast?

Limit Halloween candy acquisition. Rather than trick or treating for hours, how about throwing a Halloween party, going to a school sponsored event, creating a haunted house or being the one to pass out candy? All these activities cut down on the amount of candy your kids receive on Halloween. They also keep them moving for good health.

Freeze some Halloween candy for later. Candy lasts a long time in the freezer. It's good for at least six months. Why not give kids just 1/3 of their candy to eat right away? Freeze the rest for later. Let them choose what to keep and what to freeze. I used this technique with my kids. We once found some frozen Halloween candy in April. It was perfectly fine and a nice surprise for the kids.

Portion it out. Don't just pop it in the freezer. Make sure kids aren't raiding the supply. Eating all that Halloween candy at once is bad for their teeth and their health. Teaching them self control now pays off for life. Decide how much and how often they can have candy and stick to it. Holiday weight gain habits can start with eating Halloween candy too fast.

Give them a dose of reality. A little education might help keep kids from eating Halloween candy too fast. Don't just say it's bad for them. Give them specific details. Look up the calorie count. Find out how long it takes to burn off that candy bar. Talk about how many pounds of candy they're eating and how many pounds of weight it will cause them to gain. Look up statistics on tooth decay and health issues from weight gain.

Teach kids to savor the flavor. The practice of eating slowly gives food a chance to properly digest. When kids eat Halloween candy too fast, their stomach doesn't feel full until it's too late. Eating slowly teaches them to take the time to appreciate other experiences fully as well. While you're at it, teach them to appreciate their good fortune. Share with needy kids by donating a portion of their treats to homeless shelters and other charitable organizations.

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