Halloween is almost here, and with it comes a flood of candy and sweets. As parents, it can be tricky to balance letting our kids enjoy the fun without going overboard.
But here's the issue: restricting candy or labelling it as "bad" can actually lead to the opposite of what we want.
When we make certain foods off-limits, we unknowingly fuel cravings, which makes kids want them even more.
The key to developing a healthy relationship with food—especially for our kids—is to allow candy to be part of the experience while teaching them how to enjoy it in a balanced way.
This means no labels of "good" or "bad" when it comes to food. Instead, it's about helping them understand how and when to enjoy it.
Here's what I mean:
When we normalize candy and stop making it the "forbidden fruit," it loses some of its allure. And instead of creating a scarcity mindset around sweets, we can shift the conversation to how to enjoy them in a way that supports their energy and focus.
I like to call it putting a shield on that sugar—pairing candy with a good source of protein, fat, or fibre. This keeps blood sugar levels steady, avoids those wild, mood-tanking sugar crashes, and still allows kids to indulge.
Why is this important?
When we model this approach, we're teaching our kids two things:
And remember, the more we restrict, the more tempting candy becomes.
By allowing our kids access to Halloween candy and creating an environment where they don't feel deprived, we help them build a long-lasting, healthy relationship with food.
If you'd like to get creative in the kitchen with your kids this Halloween,
I've put together a collection of fun Spooky Snack Recipes that all contain good sources of protein, fat, and fibre (great for putting a shield on that sugar). These recipes are not only delicious but will help balance out that candy rush!
🎃 Wishing you a fun and stress-free Halloween! 👻
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