10/30/2025
Happy Halloween week! In anticipation of the big day, we'd like to share some info from Megan Maisano on "Your Local Epidemiologist" about handling all of the CANDY this week!
How do I handle all the candy?
Balance the celebratory spirit of Halloween with healthy moderation. Here are a few ways to do that:
BEFORE HALLOWEEN
Have a game plan. A little planning can help parents feel more prepared, confident, and consistent.
Keep candy in perspective. If we make it a big deal, it becomes a big deal. Every child responds differently to food, so use your best judgment and trust your gut.
For toddlers under two, try to avoid candy. Dietary Guidelines recommend no added sugar until age two, since this is an important window when taste preferences are developing. For kids under five, also be mindful of choking hazards (hard candies, caramels, and gummies).
HALLOWEEN NIGHT
Serve a balanced meal before heading out. Getting some good nutrition in their bellies can help fuel a fun evening and prevent hungry trick-or-treating.
Let your kids take the lead. Allow them to pick and eat the candy they want. They may overdo it. They may not. Try not to interfere too much if you can help it.
Make it fun. Sort it, trade it, talk about the ones you love (and the ones you don’t).
AFTER HALLOWEEN
Keep candy in a central, shared location, such as the kitchen or pantry. Be mindful of storing in places out of reach from pets (chocolate and sugar-free candies) and young children (choking hazards).
Set gentle boundaries. For example, let them choose one or two pieces to have with dinner or to pack in their lunch.
Have calm responses ready for pushback. Try: “Let’s give our bellies a break for now, how about picking one for your lunchbox?” or “That’s not on the menu right now, but [safe, enjoyed food] is!” (Jill Castle has great resources on this topic, too.)
I also like asking my kids what happened to the Hungry Caterpillar after eating too many treats. It makes the point in a silly, memorable way.
Downsize when the novelty fades. After about a week, interest usually wanes. You can move favorites to the freezer, donate some, bring a stash to work, or try techniques like the Switch Witch. This helps kids and parents transition from the daily candy habit.
At the end of the day, a short break from “healthy eating” is much easier to recover from than risking your child’s relationship with food. Remember: foods vary in nutritional value, but they hold no moral value—they’re not good, bad, clean, or dirty, and they certainly don’t reflect your worth as a parent.
