When I was thinking about what to write about this month, obviously I thought about Halloween. More specifically, I thought about all the candy that makes its way into our kids’ hands during this month. And if I am being real – we parents aren’t immune to it either!

I am definitely not one of those people who will be telling you that your kids should not take full advantage of this glorious holiday! I myself, have many fond childhood memories of dumping out my pillowcase full of candy, organizing it, trading the ones I didn’t like with my sisters and then deciding when and where I was going to eat every last piece. But now that I am a parent who is focused on living healthy, I do not want a free-for-all candy extravaganza at my house. As parents, we are looking for a good balance where our kids can have all the fun they are supposed to have, while not going overboard. So with that in mind, here are some strategies that we can all use so that this holiday won’t get the best of us.

Enjoy 1 or 2 days of the candy haul– then get rid of it.
You heard me right, enjoy it for a day or two but then throw it out. Dump it. And for those who think it’s a waste – candy has little to no nutritional value and is full of high fructose corn syrup. Look at it this way; by throwing it out, you are helping your family continue on the road to health.

Find a candy buy-back program

Last year, a local dentist offered a buyback of Halloween candy. In fact, many local businesses offered up to $1 per pound of candy brought in. This lets you and your family enjoy the candy for a day or so, and then your kids can make some extra spending money just by selling back the rest. Many of these programs then partner with nonprofit organizations to donate the candy to worthy causes.

Send candy care packages to American Service Members

Operation Gratitude is a nonprofit organization created to help lift the spirits of our US Military personnel currently deployed and away from home. They send care packages containing all
sorts of things like food, personal care products, videos and letters. They also can contain candy! To find out more information about creating a Halloween candy care package, visit their Facebookpage. Creating candy care packages for our troops is a great way to get rid of the temptation and it can help your kids learn that there are many different ways to help others. To find other opportunities to give back at Operation Gratitude, visit their ‘Get Involved’ page.

Halloween is such a fun holiday for both kids and adults and it needs to stay that way. With these strategies in place, you and your family should be able to enjoy the spirit of the holiday and all the fun that goes with it, without setting you back on your healthy and fit journey!

Published in Live Fit and Sore – The Villager October 2010