5 Ways to Subdue a Sugar Spike
Not sure about you, but the Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year. But how we eat, work, and play during these months leading up to the winter can impact how well our families stay in the cold months!
I know that Halloween can be a difficult time to keep track of your little one’s nutrition. Between the school parties, candy bags, and trick-or-treating, the holiday can give any mom a scare when the unwanted sugar spike comes. I love to make sure my kids get their fill-in and that they have an experience just like their friends would, but I always try to plan ahead to avoid any late-night belly aches, sugar hangovers, and week-long headaches.
Here are 5 quick tips to keep your kids healthier this Halloween:
- Goods over Goodies:
Cut back on some of the extra candy around the house and replace with little toys like yo-yos, spooky pencils, glow sticks, stickers, cards, mini-play dough, bouncy balls, and other small items. Kids love the atmosphere of Halloween, and festive prizes are perfect for filling their happy tank!
- Get Creative:
Pick a day during the weekend and make a fun, healthy snack with the kids! I love to make a large bowl of all-natural non-GMO popcorn, and let the kids mix in gluten-free pretzel sticks, a handful of granola, dark chocolate morsels, and a little bit of candy corn. I love the non-GMO (less sugar and no dye) candy corn that I find at Whole Foods. This treat helps to satisfy their sweet tooth, but in moderation!
- Set a Candy Plan:
The temptation of a candy-filled bucket is a lot for your little goblin to handle, (and even for most adults, too!) Set boundaries ahead of time and let your kids know exactly how many pieces they are allotted each day. I like to put their bags at the top of the pantry and have them pick the 1-2 pieces (depending on size) they want throughout the day. It is also important to tell them when the candy will be gone – setting expectations avoids future tempter tantrums.
- Inspect the Findings:
Even if your child does not have any known food allergies, make sure to check their goodies! If any candy wrapper looks unsealed, old, or damaged – toss it! If your child has a peanut allergy or food intolerance of any kind, make sure to read those labels carefully! It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
- Feast Before:
I love to feed my kids a healthy and hardy bowl of chili or pumpkin soup before we go trick-or-treating. If anything, it ensures they won’t be reaching for extra handfuls of candy out of legitimate hunger! A happy, full belly (especially good protein and a healthy fat) means little-to-no meltdowns down the road.
Be safe this Halloween season and enjoy the wonderful family memories to come!