Halloween is fun until it turns your kids into candy monsters, right?! For some reason, the after Halloween candy craze always catches me off guard a little bit. This year, I sought out to be a little more prepared and am thinking of ideas ahead of time. In the past we have always allowed our kids 1-2 pieces of candy after school, and 1-2 pieces of candy after dinner. However, this plan seems to fail us every year when we begin finding candy wrappers all over our house because they sneak it at all hours of the day. I’m talking candy wrappers behind the couch, under their pillows, in the bathroom trash can, and just littered all over the floor…please tell me this happens to you too. We even put the candy UP HIGH so they can’t reach it…but they always get to it like little spider men! This craziness results in us making continual threats to throw all their candy away for the next 3-4 weeks straight. Sigh.

As I thought more about this Halloween candy debacle, I wondered…

How long should I keep Halloween candy around?

Every parent seems to have a different idea about this. Here are some thoughts I have heard before…

• Eat whatever you want for 1 week, then get rid of it.

• One piece of candy a day until Thanksgiving.

• However old you are, that is how many pieces of candy you may have in one day. (5 years old = 5 pieces of candy per day)

• Offer your child two pieces of candy a day for 1 week.

• 2 pieces of candy after school, 2 pieces of candy after dinner until the candy is gone.

• Leave the kids be, and let them eat whatever they want.

• Let the kids eat whatever they want on Halloween and then have the “switch witch” visit and take their candy but leave a toy.

Can you guess which one of those dietitians recommend?

Leave the kids be, and let them eat whatever they want! Are you shocked? I kind of was! Obviously, I don’t want my kid to be sick and throwing up because of their candy over dose. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics wrote an article on this stating:

Keep in mind, Halloween is just one day a year, and it's what kids eat every day that has the most impact on their nutrition and health. Make this Halloween an opportunity to teach your child to enjoy special treats, in moderation, as part of an overall healthy diet.

I think this article and many other articles I have read from nutritionists have helped me chill out a bit and reminded me that short exposure to massive amounts of candy isn’t so bad. Rather, the bigger issue is the extended exposure to excess sugar over months that leads to issues. So, this year I’m really hoping to get rid of our candy more quickly. Here are some creative and fun options to do just that.

Creative & Fun Ways To Get Rid Of Excessive Halloween Candy

• Freeze it to use later in the year

• Make trail mix (just add pretzels, peanuts, raisins, and Chex cereal with your favorite candy).

• Fill mason jars with candy, slip a $5 gift card in it and it’s the perfect appreciation gift. (Teachers, Police officers, Foster Parents, Stranger-Random act of kindness, or your favorite barista)

• Fill an advent calendar

• Have a kids birthday in November? Fill a pinata with halloween candy!

• Send to troops operationgratitude.com

• Sell it to your dentist or another local buisness, halloweencandybuyback.com

• Stash some away for Christmas stocking fillers

• Make blessing bags to keep in the car (fill a ziplock bag with a water bottle, a little money -whatever you are comfortable with, granola bar, candy, & a kind note from your child). When you see someone in need you can give them the bag.

• Make it into a craft: Gingerbread house, Wreath

• Bake with it or have some friends over for an ice cream sundae bar with all the candy toppings.

• My husband is making me add- or just throw all their candy away in front of them and teach them about disappointment. Bahahaha! He’s only half kidding.

Which one is your favorite?! My favorite is any one of these that involve showing appreciation or thanks to someone. What better way to start November off by doing a service project with your children that involves them giving away something of theirs for the sake of loving on someone else. I kind of LOVE that!

If you do any of these, let me know how it goes! I would love to see photos or get any feedback from you about what worked and what did not!

Happy Halloween Friends!

• Laurie