This may sound frightening but did you know the average child consumes roughly 3,500 to 7,000 calories worth of treats on Halloween night which would take walking nearly 44 hours just to burn them off? Scary! Follow these tips to ensure that you and your family have a happy and healthy Halloween.
- Fill up on the good stuff. Before you and your family go out knocking on doors, be sure to eat a well-balanced, nutrient dense meal. You’ll be full and less likely to overindulge on the sweets.
- Get to stepping. Instead of driving your children from door to door; load up your bags with water and snacks, tie up your tennis shoes and get to walking. You could even start a friendly competition amongst family members for first dibs on your favorite candy by tracking your steps using your phone or pedometer over the course of the evening.
- Divide & Conquer. Go through that pile of sweets and take out the most desired for you and your kids. Have a limit on the total number you’ll keep in the house (ex: 100 pieces) and give the rest away like your children’s school teachers or even the mailman – anyone who may enjoy a sweet treat.
- No need for tricks with healthy treats. Instead of adding to all of the sugary candies that the kids will be getting from other houses, you can give out healthier options like sugar-free hot chocolate packets and cereal bars.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. If you find yourself overindulging and you just can’t say no to those tasty peanut butter cups, go ahead and indulge a little but be sure to get right back on track the next morning! You’ve earned it with all of that walking, so don’t spook yourself out. The most important rule is to enjoy that time with you family.
We hope you have a very happy and healthy Halloween!