Halloween is just around the corner! Between going to haunted houses, watching scary movies, carving pumpkins, and the main event of trick-or-treating, this spooky time of the year is full of exciting activities to do with friends and family. However, with what seems like endless piles of candy around, this holiday can also bring up feelings of stress and guilt for parents wanting to maintain healthy habits for themselves and their kids. 

Have no fear! These tips from our Registered Dietitians will help you balance health and fun so that you and the family can fully enjoy the frightening festivities this Halloween. 

Tip #1: Don’t buy candy early

You may have noticed Halloween candy displays popping up at the grocery store towards Labor Day. Although it can be tempting to stock up ahead of time, save candy shopping for  a couple nights before Halloween so that there isn’t a stockpile of candy sitting in your pantry before its time for trick-or-treaters to come by. 

Tip #2: Eat nutritious meals leading up to Halloween night

Feeding the body with satisfying and balanced meals before trick-or-treating can help reduce the appetite for snacking in between houses and eating copious amounts of candy at the end of the night. 

Tip #3: Don’t be the candy police

This is not another title for you to add to your resume or parent title. Creating strict rules around candy can take away from the trick-or-treating fun that only comes once a year. Associating candy with guilt and shame could lead to undesirable food behaviors like overeating or sneaking candy late at night. Instead, allow you and your kids to enjoy the process of collecting the candy and savoring a couple pieces at a time with a meal or as a snack. 

Tip #4: Encourage exploration

After a long night of trick-or-treating, your kids are probably going to assess their candy haul for how much of their favorites they’ve collected. Encourage them to try new candies rather than  just sticking to their usual choice. Let that mindset of trying new textures and flavors translate into everyday food consumption.

Tip #5: Have fun!

Enjoy every single part of the spooky season! Turn up the fun by finding new activities to do and new Halloween-themed recipes to make with the whole family this year. As mentioned earlier, this holiday only comes one day a year, so fully embrace the Halloween spirit!