Tips for Parents: Enjoy Halloween Candy, But Skip Tummy Aches 10/10/03

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Halloween usually is eagerly anticipated among children. It can be a difficult day for parents, though. Safety is a concern and so is the candy, said Karen Blakeslee, Kansas State University Research and Extension Rapid Response Coordinator.

Blakeslee, who spends her days answering questions about food and food safety, also has some practical ideas about managing the plethora of ghoulish goodies.

Choose Healthy Alternatives to Halloween Sweets

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Trick-or-treat, but not so sweet, eh?

There isn’t any reason why pleasing Halloween treats need be high in sugar, calories or fat, said Karen Blakeslee, Kansas State University Research and Extension rapid response coordinator. As such, she spends her days answering food and food safety questions. When asked about alternative treats, here’s what she had to say:

Fresh fruit, a small box of raisins, snack-size package of crackers with cheese or peanut butter, envelope of hot chocolate mix or microwave popcorn can serve as alternatives to treats that may be higher in calories and fat.

If interested in skipping food all together, stickers, crayons, sidewalk chalk; or holiday decorations such as a rubber spider are apt to please trick or treaters, Blakeslee said.

For more information on nutrition and health, contact the local K-State Research and Extension office or visit the Extension website: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu.

Put the candy in perspective. It’s not advisable to eat too much of any food, said Blakeslee, who offered this advice for parents:

* Provide a sandwich or light meal before a child goes trick-or-treating. If hunger is satisfied, a child will be less likely to sample candy away from home, she said.

* Once home, help a child sort treats. Wash fresh fruit, and look it over for pinholes, cuts or any atypical damage; check candy wrappers to see if they are intact, and discard loose candy or anything else that looks suspect, Blakeslee said.

“There was a time when homemade cookies or a caramel apple would have been welcomed as a Halloween treat. Since many people are not well acquainted with their neighbors, it may be best to discard homemade foods,” she said.

“People usually have a favorite or two. After sampling a bit, consider freezing candy bars for future use and storing hard candy in an airtight container for another day,” Blakeslee said.

Incorporating holiday candy as a dessert or occasional treat over several weeks can spread out the candy and the calories, and also extend the holiday mood, she said.

For more information on food safety and health, visit the local K-State Research and Extension office or visit Extension’s Web site: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu.

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.