Happy Halloween!
As the time for trick-or-treating gets closer, the anticipation builds. It is an opportunity to dress up in costume, to enjoy the creative decorations and of course to collect candy. That is what makes Halloween fun, right?
But, what if you have a child that cannot have candy because of food allergies, or the candy negatively impacts behavior, you have a child who is cavity-prone, or you just don't want your child to eat 10 pounds of candy?
Here are a few ideas of ways to manage the loot:
Participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project:
Offer trick-or-treaters non-food items to support a safe and fun Halloween for those with allergies. Put a teal pumpkin outside of your house to raise awareness and alert children with allergies that you are offering safe options.
Set up your own candy market:
This works especially well for children who are unable to eat the candy because of food allergies or diet issues. You can give your child the opportunity to trade in some of their candy for healthier/safer options, toys, or money.
Support the troops:
You can take your excess candy to a participating dentist and your child will receive money or toys in exchange. The candy will then be sent to our troops overseas. For more information and for a participating dentist near you click here.
Don't be afraid to set limits:
You can manage your child's Halloween candy intake by limiting the quantity they consume and when the consume their candy so it doesn't negatively impact their sleeping, learning or nutrition intake. Give them some choices within those limits: you can choose which candy you can have / you can have one after lunch OR one after dinner.
For those children who have allergies, Halloween may be more difficult. Here are a few tips I learned from a mom well-educated on the subject with a very special boy who happens to have food allergies:
Set up some rules ahead of time (that the whole family can follow):
- Your child can graciously accept whatever candy is offered as long as it has a wrapper.
- No eating any candy until getting home.
- Once you are home, go through the candy and put aside any candy that is unsafe.
- You can allow your child to trade in all the unsafe candy for safe
candy/treats/toys or money that you have in the house or donate it to the troops.
Of course you want to take the normal precautions you would take to avoid an incident and cross-contamination. Be sure to discuss any questions or concerns with your child's pediatrician.
Hopefully your child will be able to enjoy the same Halloween experience as other children while staying safe. For more resources and ideas about celebrating Halloween with food allergies go to: www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=42
Happy Halloween! Safe Trick-or-Treating!
As the time for trick-or-treating gets closer, the anticipation builds. It is an opportunity to dress up in costume, to enjoy the creative decorations and of course to collect candy. That is what makes Halloween fun, right?
But, what if you have a child that cannot have candy because of food allergies, or the candy negatively impacts behavior, you have a child who is cavity-prone, or you just don't want your child to eat 10 pounds of candy?
Here are a few ideas of ways to manage the loot:
Participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project:
Offer trick-or-treaters non-food items to support a safe and fun Halloween for those with allergies. Put a teal pumpkin outside of your house to raise awareness and alert children with allergies that you are offering safe options.
Set up your own candy market:
This works especially well for children who are unable to eat the candy because of food allergies or diet issues. You can give your child the opportunity to trade in some of their candy for healthier/safer options, toys, or money.
Support the troops:
You can take your excess candy to a participating dentist and your child will receive money or toys in exchange. The candy will then be sent to our troops overseas. For more information and for a participating dentist near you click here.
Don't be afraid to set limits:
You can manage your child's Halloween candy intake by limiting the quantity they consume and when the consume their candy so it doesn't negatively impact their sleeping, learning or nutrition intake. Give them some choices within those limits: you can choose which candy you can have / you can have one after lunch OR one after dinner.
For those children who have allergies, Halloween may be more difficult. Here are a few tips I learned from a mom well-educated on the subject with a very special boy who happens to have food allergies:
Set up some rules ahead of time (that the whole family can follow):
- Your child can graciously accept whatever candy is offered as long as it has a wrapper.
- No eating any candy until getting home.
- Once you are home, go through the candy and put aside any candy that is unsafe.
- You can allow your child to trade in all the unsafe candy for safe
candy/treats/toys or money that you have in the house or donate it to the troops.
Of course you want to take the normal precautions you would take to avoid an incident and cross-contamination. Be sure to discuss any questions or concerns with your child's pediatrician.
Hopefully your child will be able to enjoy the same Halloween experience as other children while staying safe. For more resources and ideas about celebrating Halloween with food allergies go to: www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=42
Happy Halloween! Safe Trick-or-Treating!
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