We really like Halloween at our house. Sure, some feel like it’s an over-commercialized celebration of Pagan evilness, but I figure as long as you’re not sacrificing puppies or drinking the blood of calves, you’re probably fine.
When I was a kid, the big freak-out about Halloween was razor blades in apples and poison in Tootsie-rolls. My Grandpa Raymond got great thrill out of terrifying us out of eating our sugary loot and my parents painstakingly inspected every single piece of candy. Nowadays, it’s all gluten and high fructose corn syrup and Holy-Monkeys…red #40!
While I typically try and make sure my kids are as free of toxic, processed food as possible, we do let them have treats and don’t freak out on holidays when they get gobs of what I like to call “kid-crack”. What we do with the gobs of kid-crack after Halloween night is another story.
Typically, on Halloween we let them have their fun trick-or-treating and gobbing-off their candy. They basically have free reign over it on October 31st. On November 1st, however, it disappears into the abyss of the “giant candy jar in the pantry” which is off limits to people under age 18 without permission or great sacrificial offerings of chores and schoolwork.
We then use that candy for occasional treats and rewards until the next holiday in which we receive excessive amounts of candy…usually Christmas. If we still have candy in the jar at that time (we usually do) I throw it out (or give it to my brother) and start over.
Here are five ways to make sure your kids don’t crack-out on Halloween:
- Have regular healthy meals and teach good nutrition the other 364 days a year so that they’re equipped with the knowledge and desire to practice moderation with their candy and keep their body healthy. (don’t laugh – we should all aspire to something)
- Lead by example. (this is a hard one for me because I have a wicked sweet-tooth)
- Feed them a good, protein-heavy meal before embarking on any Halloween expeditions.
- Let them experience eating themselves sick once or twice and trust me, they remember barfing and are careful to not over-indulge again.
- Have them trade their candy for something else the next day or just steal it like a thief in the night like I do. (I’ve just always done this and my kids don’t know anything else so there’s no belly-aching about it. You may have to have a serious convo ahead of time with your kids if this isn’t the norm in your house)
How do you handle Halloween at your place?
Leave me a comment below with your great ideas!
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Now, for your viewing pleasure…Highlights of the Abernathy Family Halloween Album
