Halloween With Food Allergies/ Restrictions
Halloween can be a holiday full of fun activities such as pumpkin carving, dress up and spooky dance parties but when it comes to the main event, trick-or-treating, many parents will find themselves stressed and concerned for their little ones health. Issues surrounding food allergies, restrictions or just trying to monitor your child’s sugar intake can be difficult to navigate during this time. Here are some ghoul-proof ways to keep the fun in Halloween while staying safe and healthy!
Look for a teal pumpkin! The teal pumpkin project is an allergy-awareness campaign that encourages families to put a teal pumpkin in front of their home on Halloween to represent an allergy-friendly household. These homes will give away non-food treats or allergy-friendly treats during trick-or-treating! You can even turn it into a game for your kids to find as many teal pumpkin homes as they can during the night! Learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project Here
Use smaller bags! The old days of pillow case trick-or-treating can be placed gently behind us. Providing your little one with smaller bags for trick-or-treating can help them practice moderation and reduce the amount of sweets coming into your home at the end of the night. Pro-tip: have a Halloween basket decorating night so your child is able to customize their bag!
Offer a trade! Have your child participate in the trick-or-treating activities by collecting the candy but at the end of the night allow them to cash in their candy for toys, games, or any other prizes you’d like! You can then take the collected candy and donate it so it doesn’t go to waste!
Keep back-ups! Allow your child to collect candy but if they are collecting items they cannot have due to dietary restrictions, carry back up allergy-friendly treats with you in your own trick-or-treating bag and allow them to make swaps during the night.
Use this as an opportunity to teach moderation! Once you have completed your night of trick-or-treating, take this opportunity to have an open discussion with your child about consuming their treats in moderation. You can challenge them to make their candy stash last longer through the year to keep the fun of Halloween around. You can also provide them with their own area to store their candy and set boundaries around when they can get a treat from their candy bin through the week. Be honest with your child about eating too much sugar and even consult with a dietitian to teach your child more about eating healthy!
If you are interested in more ways to improve your child’s nutrition, send an email to nutrikaywellness@gmail.com to set up a consultation call!