10 Ways to Reduce Sugar Overload This Halloween: Halloween can be so much fun for children! Dressing up and going out at night, knocking on doors and especially getting candy! For parents who are trying to feed their children well, however, Halloween candy can be a nightmare. The sugar lowers the immune system, (ever notice how many children get a cold about 2 weeks following Halloween? ), causes hyperactivity and contributes to obesity and tooth decay. Here is a list of ways you can deal with the trick or treat loot your children collect without it damaging their health. In fact, they may be the envy of their friends! 1. After the treats are collected, dump them and sort. Throw out any that contain corn syrup or list sugar as the first ingredient. This will reduce the pile considerably. 2. Have your child select a portion of the treats that remain to keep and eat. You may decide together on six chocolate bars, two bags of chips, and three other candies for example. 3. Ask your child what she would like to do with the remaining treats. Recycle them to other trick or treaters? Donate them to Mom or Dad to eat? (Watch out for the last one!) 4. Offer to buy some or all of the remaining treats. Decide on prices, for example a small candy might be worth a nickel, a bag of chips a dime. Trade. By the way, this is a great way to get in some math and negotiating skills! 5. In lieu of money, have stickers and or small toys to trade. 6. Alternately, buy healthy treats and use these to trade. Maybe three small collected chocolate bars equal one organic larger chocolate bar for example. 7. Permit the child to eat two or three of their Halloween treats the same night. Take the remaining treats and put them out of reach. 8. Give the treats that remain out one or two at a time, always after a meal. This will ensure that fat and protein slow the rate the sugar enters the bloodstream, and cause less of an insulin spike. 9. Only offer the treats if the child asks, after a couple of days they will likely forget about the candy and stop asking. 10. After a few more days, throw the remaining treats out, so that the parents are not tempted to finish them off!
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 05:29:02 +0000
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