It’s that time of year again.. when the constant flow of treats, goodie bags, and candy comes parading into my house. Don’t get me wrong, I love Halloween and the holidays as much as the next person.. (probably more so due to my Halloween birthday!), but when my three school-age kids come home with HUGE grocery sized plastic bags filled with candy…. not so much. By Valentines Day last year, no exaggeration, we amassed over FIVE Jewel bags stuffed to the brim filled with candy and other treats. I can proudly say that I am an “everything in moderation dietitian” but in no way, shape, or form was I going to let my kids (ages 12, 6, 5 (and 20 months) eat all of that sugar!

(And for the record, Yes my kids have some candy on Halloween. But it’s after they had dinner and it’s a few of their favorite pieces. I’ll have them have 1-2 small treats for a couple days and then when the candy is forgotten about… POOF! It disappears! (Magic, I know!). Did you can donate your unused Halloween candy by mid November to US troops overseas? Click this link to fill out the donation form, the shipping address is on the form. https://www.operationgratitude.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Donor-Form_2014-2_fillable.pdf)

As a mom, its hard not to fall prey to the “mommy competition” as I call it… who has the best goody bag, the most creative cupcake or treat? In an average child’s classroom (say 25 kids), if each child brings a goodie bag to pass out to his/her friends filled with at least 3-5 pieces of candy, then your child, BEFORE THE CLASS PARTY EVEN STARTS, has accumulated over 75 pieces of candy!!!
This does not include what is given at classroom parties nor what they will receive when they go trick or treating. I say, save the candy for trick or treating and let’s cut down on the excess of Halloween (and every other school holiday party).
Here are some tips on how to make for a less wasteful Halloween this year:

*Make sure all holiday school parties are organized, and have a sign up sheet so you dont end up with 0 paper plates and 50 cupcakes (I’ve seen this happen). Create a sign up list for parents that want to send in donations, but include a wide variety of things: activities for the party, a healthy item or two such as apples or grapes, low sugar juice boxes or mini water bottles, paper products, a treat or two etc.

*Discourage each child from bringing candy, or encourage other items such as raisins, pencils, erasers, crayons, animal crackers, pretzels, Goldfish, stickers etc. Or just simply discourage each child from bringing anything except their donation for the party. (My middle two  started at a new school this year and they have a no food policy for all parties.. YES! Guess what they do at parties now? PLAY! Make crafts! Have parades!)

*Keep things simple. Halloween and Christmas party? Send in your party donation. Valentines Day? Send in a Valentine for each child.

The point of the party is to celebrate and have fun!! Here’s to hoping that my kids bring home a little less sugar this year so I don’t have to hear my kids begging for candy each day, or worse, finding a stash of candy wrappers in their rooms!

Cheers to a Happy and (Healthier) Halloween for all this year!

~Kelly