Registered dietitians Abbey Sharp and Alison Graziano both advocate for giving children unlimited access to Halloween candy as a way to build healthy relationships with food. Sharp emphasizes the importance of allowing kids to choose their own candy on Halloween night as a way to show them that sugary treats are not off-limits. She also recommends continuing to allow kids to have unlimited access to candy for a few days after Halloween to teach them that these treats are not so special or novel. Graziano echoes Sharp’s sentiments, emphasizing that hiding or rationing candy can make it seem like a “bad” food and lead to binge eating behaviors in the future.
Research has shown that the average American consumes 3.4 pounds of candy around Halloween each year, with kids consuming a significant amount of sugar and calories on the holiday. However, Sharp suggests that allowing kids to indulge in candy on Halloween night can actually prevent overeating in the long term. By giving children the freedom to choose their treats and teaching them to self-regulate, parents can help kids develop a healthy relationship with food and avoid future issues with disordered eating.
The key, according to Sharp, is to provide kids with a variety of options and allow them to learn how to moderate their candy intake. By allowing children to have one treat a day after Halloween, parents can help kids learn to listen to their body signals and develop a balanced approach to eating. This strategy can prevent kids from feeling deprived and reduce the likelihood of binge eating behaviors later in life. Graziano also advises parents to teach kids that there are no “good” or “bad” foods, and that candy should not be made into a big deal.
Overall, both Sharp and Graziano stress the importance of allowing kids to have free rein over their Halloween candy haul and using the holiday as a teachable moment to build healthy eating habits. By encouraging moderation and self-regulation, parents can help kids develop a positive relationship with food and avoid the negative consequences of restrictive eating. Ultimately, the goal is to help children feel empowered to make their own choices when it comes to food and prevent future issues with disordered eating.
