MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Experts at UW Health are recommending parents and caregivers use Halloween as an opportunity to talk with kids about sugar intake, healthy eating habits and good balances.
It is not uncommon for kids to come home with a big bag full of candy. Camila Martin, a clinical pediatric nutritionist with UW Health Kids, says to help kids plan to have some balance when eating candy.
“Kids like to know the plan and to be involved in the decision process, so in this case they can pick which candy they have, and the parents set the boundaries on how many pieces and what time of day,” Martin said. “I’d recommend one to two pieces of candy a day with a healthy snack.”
Martin added that she does not recommend trying to ban or hide candy because it could lead to unhealthy fixations or habits.
“If you hide candy or make a child feel like they have to sneak around to get it, it could lead to overeating,” she said. “If they feel like they never get candy, they might eat 10 pieces when they finally have some and develop an unhealthy relationship with certain foods.”
Martin also said that healthy habits go beyond the one day in October.
“Society tends to fixate on candy for Halloween but there are fun things people can do to entice consumption of healthy foods around trick-or-treating,” she said, “For example, try to focus on the costumes, decorations or crafts.”
Click here to see a list of Halloween festivities happening all around the area.
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