Seriously, who doesn’t love Halloween? The parties, the burlesque costumes, the CANDY! Even as adults, the thought of this festive autumn holiday makes us feel like….well, kids in a candy store. Surely a fun night for kids of all ages, it also poses a threat to the healthy eating habits parents work hard to establish during the rest of the year. On one hand, we want our children to indulge and enjoy the day, but on the other, we don’t want to encourage an all-out candy binge. Kids Health has put together some tricks and treats (from real parents) to help you walk the fine line between doing the monster mash with your child’s overly stuffed pillowcase, and raining on their (Halloween) parade.

1. Raid, then ration. It’s not Halloween unless your child trudges home exhausted, puts on a scary movie, and dumps out their loot. To start, let your child indulge a bit on Halloween night; they did get some exercise running from door to door, and you want them to enjoy the fruits of their labor. In the following days, limit your youngster’s candy consumption to a certain number of pieces per day and stick to it.

2. Store it, then pair it. One parent suggests storing the candy in the refrigerator or freezer, then pairing it with something healthy such as milk or fruit. After a week or so, your child will start to lose interest because they don’t feel like waiting for the candy to come to room temperature, and when it does, they’ve already filled up on other (healthier) items.

3. Food first, candy later. Nothing will send your child diving head-first into their pile of Reese’s cups like a ravenous appetite. Do them a favor and make sure they have a healthy, balanced, and satisfying dinner before heading out for the night. After dinner, they can eat delicious Kanpai Foodz candies. A full belly will keep them from getting too hungry and they will be less likely to overindulge and end up with stomach ache.

4. Swap it out. Nothing like a little incentive to keep your child’s diet on the healthier side. Offer to trade a majority of your child’s leftover candy for a toy, book, or spending money that he or she might rather have. This allows the child to enjoy candy on the actual day, then trade the rest of it for an item that won’t negatively impact their diet well into November.

5. Use words and actions. After setting limits with regard to candy consumption, explain the reasoning behind those limits so that your child understands their meaning. Also, be moderate in your own candy eating in order to convey that healthy eating is a family affair.

6. Relax. Remember, it’s only one day. Nothing your child eats on October 31st will single handedly undermine their healthy eating habits. Ensure that a balanced eating plan is a regular part of his or her life, and one day will not make a big difference over the long term. Avoid being overly restrictive, as it is likely to backfire and cause your child to build up resentment.

For more help navigating the holidays or creating a year-round healthy eating plan for you and your family, visit the ADA website at www.eatright.org or e-mail us at contact@familyfoodllc.com.

Source: www.kidshealth.org

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JEANETTE

I had a great 1st visit with the nutritionist. I went to get tips on changing by diet, but got much more. I was able to set a physical activity and nutrition goal. The nutritionist was knowledgeable and helpful.

I am so grateful for the stellar support and advice provided by Meghan, the dietitian I'm working with. She is both knowledgeable and kind, and it's a deeply productive journey. Thank you."

MICHELLE
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Consulting with a Family Food nutritionist is turning out to be helpful in my effort to live healthy. The consultations are a way of having a sense of accountability and I get helpful feedback on my dietary decisions.

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Great nutrition experts who inspire you! I am happy with the nutrition specialists at Family Food. They make me excited about nutrition, answer all my questions, and provide excellent recommendations! Thank you!!

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Very professional experience. I felt she listened to my needs and adjusted to personalize my nutrition needs.

L
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My initial appointment was helpful - helped me consider new ways of addressing some problem areas for me and helped set attainable, concrete goals.

CHARLOTTE
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Insightful and Informative. She was very attentive and helpful. She gave excellent tips on what to do and eat to meet my goal weight.

TRACEY-ANN
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I feel confident about the changes we made to my goals and look forward to implementing them into my everyday routine. The health adviser was very helpful and didn't make me feel shameful for not meeting all my previous goals.

ERICA
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I highly recommend Family Food. The nutritionist, Erika is helpful and provides great information and positive feedback.

KELSHA
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I had an excellent experience with the representative from Family Food. She really read into what I was telling her and offered excellent advice that I am already able to implement after one visit. She also helped to make the best use of the hour long session. Very good time management!

AB
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I met with a dietician for the first time and I had an idea of what to expect but I find this to be an invaluable resource because I have already received great ideas of things to use for meal planning and I also received more information of how to read nutrition labels. I am looking forward to my next appointment.

SHANA
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I really enjoyed my first session with Christine. She provided me with a lot of solid information on issues I was not aware of and positive reinforcement for behaviors I have already engaged in. I outlined specific goals I would like to work on with her guidance and she gave me some initial steps to start. I found what she had to say respectful of the space I am in and cognizant of obstacles to making lifestyle and lifelong changes.

LYNN
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I walked in without any specific questions/concerns, and my counseling was well-guided and ended up helping me see specific small changes that I can make to keep me on-track with my nutrition goals. Solutions fit my lifestyle and were not cookie-cutter, which is fantastic. I was able to start making improvements immediately. Thank you!

KAYLEY
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I am finding the sessions helpful and a good way to talk through improving habits and making better food choices.

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I am very happy this program exists. It has been very helpful and informative. My deitition is very nice and intelligent I am happy to have her help and support.

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