​Let Them Eat Candy!

by Carrie Chacon

I’m so happy the days of trick-or-treating are almost over! I have loved every single goofy costume my kids have created.  I have loved the build up to candy fest, and I have loved the sorting and trading that goes down post-trick or treating.
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The word lovED! Is important here. It is okay to let go of past loves which for me means letting go of trick-or-treating, because now my kids wear miss matched shoes and a wig and think they are dressed up. They head out the door get the loot, sort the loot, then eat the loot like mad, before I can come to my senses (or put down my wine glass) and bring the madness to a scratching halt. But there was a time I truly lovED Halloween—when I was a kid and I was tick-or-treating. Big Sigh… sure do miss that!

But now here I am a full-fledged grown up, at least on paper, and I have to remember I’m in charge of my little human beings. My plan of attack this Halloween? Pretty standard, make sure kids are fed (Chili is always served), make sure they are hydrated, go over the street rules, the “being nice to little kids” rule and the “always say thank you” rule. Not too much has changed in our Halloween prep. What has changed? They feed themselves, and their costumes are kind of lame.

Do I have candy rules? Let them eat, let them eat until they puke! I’ve done some very acute research on this (aka my kids!), and if you let them eat and eat and eat their candy until they roll onto their belly-aching sides… they will want candy no more. Actually they will want candy, but not gobs and gobs of it. Sick and sore bellies leave much more of an impression then a screaming crazy mama.

Of course, now we have a blood sugar roller coaster, but that’s to be expected. I’m not surprised by the vacant, I can’t think look in their eyes. Now from this point forward, I do have some loose post-Halloween Candy rules.

Here are some Big Don’ts when it comes to candy eating.

1. Candy eating time should NOT happen when kids get home from school. They are cranky, hungry and need to focus on homework. I strangely feel that candy eating should be done before dinner. Wait, don’t un-friend me! Think about this. They get home from school, have a healthy snack, get homework done, then maybe a few hours to kill. This is the candy time.. .because dinner is right around the corner, and you are helping their little bodies regulate that blood sugar with healthy foods. I will confess there is NO science to back my theory up. I just know it works in our home.
2. Candy should not be eaten before bed. You know this but had to say it.
3. Candy absolutely should not be sent to school. My gosh! Please do not, I repeat DO NOT do this. Feed your little ones candy at home. No need to share.
4. *Kind of a don’t but I do, do this sometimes. Eat candy in the morning. I know! But for ME, what feels okay in the SNAC shack is sometimes a piece of candy at breakfast, with their food. Love it or hate it. I’m here to tell you what goes down in our pad.
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You know and I know there are healthy ways to enjoy Halloween. And a quick search will give you a billion ideas. I can’t compete with Pinterist. But I can be honest with you. And talk to you about real homes, real lives, real kiddos, and real candy dilemmas.  I want my kids look back at Halloween and think Wow! That was so fun. Did mom seriously let us eat that much candy? I think that every year! Wow!! Did my mom really let me that much candy?! Halloween was the best!  And any blog telling you about ‘healthy candy’… phaaaalllleeeeezzz, be suspicious! Candy is candy. Don’t sugar coat it (ha!) call it what it is.
 
To a candy-filled Halloween~ 

Carrie Chacon,
Certified Clinical Nutritionist 
Owner of SNAC (simple, nourishing, affordable, cooking) pragmas and classes.
carrie@snaccards.com
SNAC website!
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