13 Ways to Curb Halloween Candy Overload

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How to Plan for the Halloween Sugar Rush

From candy corn to caramel apples, Halloween can be the sweetest night of the year. The downside? Sugar gives us a quick boost of energy, followed by an even quicker crash that leaves us craving more. Keep your sweet tooth (and the candy consumption of your kids) under control with these 13 survival tips from our panel of veteran parents.

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1. Keep Halloween Candy Out of Sight—And Out of Mind!

Hide the Halloween candy you’ve bought for handing out so you (and your family) don’t start gorging on it before the 31st.

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2. Don’t Chauffeur Trick-or-Treaters

Save gas and walk with your kids through the neighbourhood. This way, you’ll all burn off the excess Halloween calories.

No costume prepared? No problem! Here are eight genius Halloween costumes you can pull together at the last minute.

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3. Don’t Trick-or-Treat on an Empty Stomach

Make sure your little goblins have a good hearty meal before they start trick-or-treating so they won’t be as tempted to gorge themselves later.

Psst—this is why we celebrate Halloween in the first place.

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4. Curb Your Sugar Intake

Cut out sweets several days before heading out for trick or treats.

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5. Exercise Portion Control

One-bite chocolate bars and half-size portions are a great way to have your candy and eat it too.

It turns out this is the absolute best diet for weight loss (and no, it’s not Keto!).

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6. Consider Halloween Candy Alternatives

Boxes of raisins, dried fruit, fruit leather and packs of cookies are all healthier alternatives to candy.

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7. Skip the Sweets

Forego candy altogether and give out small gifts instead. Temporary tattoos, stickers or cool pencils are always popular.

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8. Slow Down the Sugar Rush

Hand out candy that takes a while to eat. Fructose-free lollipops or hard candy that’s naturally sweetened are just as delicious.

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9. Control the Candy After Halloween

Let your kids keep their favourites and give away the rest. Don’t allow the stash to be kept in your child’s bedroom.

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10. Blow-Out or Moderation?

It depends on your child. Some parents allow their kids one evening of binging, hoping it will teach them their limits. Other parents allow only a certain amount of candy per day. The key is not to make your child feel deprived because this lead to confrontations.

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11. Set Up a Halloween Candy Trade

Let your kids turn in their candy for other treats like a new toy or special activity.

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12. Keep Dental Health in Mind

Sticky candy is the most harmful to teeth so minimize gummy bears, toffee and chewy candy.

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13. Bring Halloween Candy to School

Let your child take a couple of treats to school each day. At the end of the week, cut it back to every other day and then phase it out by the third week. Have a safe and happy Halloween!