Post Halloween: Teaching Our Kids the “Why” Behind Moderation

My 4 ½ year old son, Evan, was on quite a roll this morning!  He started off by telling me his leg hurt.  I asked him if he hit it on something and he said no.  I then explained that when his body grows, it can cause his body to hurt sometimes.  He said, “Oh, I know why!  I think I ate too much candy for Halloween.”  I stopped in my tracks and smiled.  “Really?  You think that’s why?”  He said, “Yes.  Mommy, will you give me something healthy to eat?  I need to make my leg feel better.”  I almost fell over.  I explained to him that the foods he ate for breakfast were actually healthy (whole grain waffles, yogurt, orange juice) so that should make his leg feel better soon.

I think Evan remembered me telling he and his sister about how candy can make them feel “yucky” if they eat too much.  I’ve explained that eating some candy is fine, but eating a lot can make them feel sick and can even take some of their “super powers” away.  Even when I thought Evan wasn’t listening, I think that made an impression on him after all.

My kids, Evan & Hannah, about to head out trick or treating!

As parents, let’s remember to tell our children the “why’s” behind being healthy.  Avoid making associations between food and weight or "to avoid getting granny's sugar disease," but instead mention things that matter to them right now.  Evan loves soccer, being strong, smart and running fast.  I tell him that eating healthy foods help him with those things and he gets it.  Get them invested in the healthy lifestyle for their own reasons; it will stick with them for the rest of their lives.  [By the way, he recently started eating broccoli after over 3 years of rejecting it on his plate and now he says it’s his favorite food.  Perserverance in healthy messgaging and exposure pays off!] 

Stick with those positive messages, Mom and Dad.  They are listening even when you don’t think they are.  I was reminded today that my son is listening to me. J

Check out my post last year will give you ideas on what to do with leftover candy: Operation Halloween Candy: The Party's Over! 

Operation Halloween Candy: Party's Over!

If the leftover Halloween candy is causing a struggle in your
home, consider teaching a valuable community service
lesson to your children by donating it.

Our family has way too much candy leftover from Halloween.  We didn't get as many trick or treaters this year so we have bags of chocolate bars.  Plus, my kids received tons of candy that has been taunting them daily.  Is it the same scenario at your house?  Although I encourage each of us to continue teaching our children about the proper behaviors around candy, we also must consider environmental triggers.  I think candy donations to our military troops can be a great way to teach our children about community service and giving to others while also eliminating candy overconsumption in the household.  At our house, we are putting together a care package that includes our candy along with handmade cards from our children thanking the troops for how they protect our country.  Of course, we will be sure to include a message that encourages the troops to enjoy their candy in moderation so they can maintain a healthy lifestyle!  My brother served two tours in Iraq and he said that it was wonderful to get candy in the mail because it was not available where he was stationed.  Apparently, this is the case in many places soldiers are stationed in different parts of the world.  Although I am not a fan of candy (I'm a salt vs. sweet kinda gal), I understand that others like it and would appreciate having some sent over for an occasional treat.

If you want to donate your candy, here are a couple places:

Operation Gratitude
Operation Shoebox

Halloween is fun because it comes once a year and then it's over.  So don't let Halloween candy eating continue on and on to where the treats do a "trick" on your healthy lifestyle.  Donate your candy this year!  If you have any other great ideas on what to do with Halloween candy other than eating it all until it's gone, I would love to hear about them.

Trick or Treat -- Candy, Please!

Yep! Candy is mostly sugar.  Good thing
Halloween only occurs once a year.

The reality is that the Halloween tradition is about children receiving candy as they go door to door in their Halloween costumes.  Halloween only occurs once a year, so I say, let the children enjoy some candy.   Don't get me wrong.  I love the healthier ideas out there, especially the toy and sticker alternative.  But remember, candy is not the root of all evil – it is the frequency in which it is consumed that could pose a problem.  We live in a world where our children are already around lots of candy, so we must teach them proper behaviors around eating it.  I see Halloween as a wonderful training opportunity on proper eating behaviors.  So let the kids enjoy their Halloween candy, but don’t let it be consumed endlessly after the holiday.  I allow my children to have more candy than usual on Halloween.  In fact, I let them have all the candy they want this one night per year.  My daughter has already learned firsthand that too much candy will give her a tummy ache.  We had a great discussion when she was feeling sick after eating too much icing one time that too much candy will make her body feel bad.  After Halloween comes and goes this weekend, the frequency of candy consumption will go back to how it normally is at our home – a maximum of once or twice per week.  So, my take on Halloween?  Let the kids have their candy.  And remember to use this time to teach them about the place that candy should have in their lives every other day of the year – as an occasional treat. 

Fall Fun With Pumpkins

Halloween is a great time to encourage family fun
with food - by playing and eating pumpkins!

With the Fall season in full swing, we are approaching the fun times of pumpkin patches and pumpkin carving - such great activities for families with small children.  What a wonderful time to allow your kids to learn about and play with pumpkins.  Afer all, the more comfortable and interested they are in this nutrient-packed gourd, the more likely they are to eat it in varying forms.  Pumpkins are thought to have originated in North America.  The word pumpkin comes from the Greek word "pepon" which means "large melon."  Pumpkins are packed with great nutrition to fuel our child's growing bodies.  They contain carotenoids, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which are all antioxidants or anti-cancer properties.  Pumpkins also contain iron, zinc and fiber.  Talk to your children about these interesting facts and more as you have fun picking and carving your pumpkins.

I love those farms that allow you to pick pumpkins right off the vine, although they are harder to find these days.  Many of the pumpkin farms have them already sorted by size and price.  Allow each of your children to have their own pumpkin, if possible, so they can design their own.  Give your child an ice cream scoop or large spoon so they can be part of the messy fun after they draw their own whimsical faces and designs.  I personally like the ideas on Kaboose's pumpkin craft page.

After you have carved your pumpkins, what to do with the pumpkin "guts?"  Don't throw that wonderful nutrition in the trash!  No, continue the fun by baking or cooking a recipe with your children.  You can substitute canned pumpkin in any recipe for fresh pumpkin.  Simly remove the pumpkin seeds and set aside (to lightly salt and roast for their own separate treat later).  Steam the pumpkin pieces and pulp with a bit of water in a pressure cooker, or in a pot using a steaming basket.  When it's done, blendarize your pumpkin and it's ready to be added to your recipe.  These are the recipes that look interesting to me this Halloween:

Eating Well's Pumpkin Cookies or Pumpkin Apple Soup

Taste of Home's Pilgrim Pudding

All Recipe's Pumpkin Bread

Family Oven's Pumpkin Breads & Muffins

What is your family's favorite pumpkin recipe?  I would love to hear from you.  This season, make time to have some family fun with pumpkins!