Passing out treats at Halloween isn’t inherently bad; it’s a joyful tradition that brings communities together. The key is to approach it with good intention and thought.
Kathy
Kolasa
Kathy
Kolasa
Passing out treats at Halloween isn’t inherently bad; it’s a joyful tradition that brings communities together. The key is to approach it with good intention and thought.
Q Is passing out candy at Halloween really so bad? What would be healthy candy to pass out? — MM, Winterville
A This question comes up every year. Kaia Dillon, an ECU senior dietetic student, offers some fresh ideas on an approach to trick-or-treating. After graduation, she hopes to become an RDN working with a professional sports team. She was drawn to dietetics because she grew up playing sports and being active, leading her to watch what she ate and questioning what the food and supplements did for her body.
As we all know, Halloween is a non-official holiday much loved by children. What sounds better to a 5-year-old than running around collecting candy while dressed up as their favorite character? However, on the adult side of this, adding to the pile of candy in kids’ buckets might raise some questions for you.
Candy is defined as a sweet food made with sugar or other sweeteners, typically formed in small, shaped pieces and flavored with chocolate, fruit or nuts and artificial or natural flavors. Generally, these sugars are different from naturally occurring ones found in fruits and dairy. In 2016, the American Heart Association issued its first ever scientific statement suggesting children should limit their added sugar consumption. Children and teens should consume less than 6 teaspoons of added sugars a day and drink no more than 8 ounces of sugary beverages a week. Additionally, children under the age of 2 shouldn’t have added sugars at all.
There is very good evidence that consuming too much added sugar is linked to health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels. For example, high amounts of sugar can overload the liver, which in turn causes the body to turn all this excess sugar into fat. Too much accumulated fat can then put one’s health at risk, causing the heart to work much harder than it needs to. Additionally, high amounts of added sugar have been linked to acne. Remember that research linking is not proving cause and effect.
Sugar also feeds harmful bacteria in the mouth, leading to tooth decay and cavities. Some say eating sugar makes kids hyper, but there is no solid evidence to say that ii’s true.
You seem to be wondering if one night of indulging in candy will cause long-term harm. And the answer is probably not. But it is important to be aware of how much added sugar children eat. For example, just one cookie of a Twix chocolate bar has about 11 grams of added sugar, which is about half of the recommended value for one day. I suggest that if you have kids, you and other parents, grandparents and teachers use the Halloween experience as a great time to teach children about balance and nutrition and how food affects their bodies, including their teeth.
We know dietitians struggle with the question of what to give away for Halloween and what to allow their children to eat and drink. They recognize that Halloween is a cultural event and, for most children, the excitement of trick-or-treating is more about the experience than the candy itself. Labeling candy as “bad” may unintentionally create guilt or shame around eating it, which may lead to unhealthy relationships with eating candy later in life.
Many dietitians recommend parents set boundaries with their children before the trick-or-treating begins. It may be important for some children to put the collected candy away where it isn’t easily accessible and can be given out in small amounts.
If you decide to give candy, we recommend you explore the Nutrition Facts label on the packages and choose something that has lower amounts of added sugar. Hard candies are likely to have more sugar in them when compared with chocolates. Avoid giving “sugar-free” candy — candy sweetened with sugar alcohol or a sweetener ending in -ol. Read the ingredient list for sorbitol, xylitol and erythritol. Eating too much of those could cause tummy aches or diarrhea.
Instead of candy, you might choose small packets of nuts, dried fruit or trail mix. You may opt to give away small trinkets, decorative pencils, balloons, stickers, temporary tattoos or even coins. But be careful with what you give to very small children — avoid anything that might be a choking hazard.
Passing out treats at Halloween isn’t inherently bad; it’s a joyful tradition that brings communities together. The key is to approach it with good intention and thought. By promoting moderation, offering healthier alternatives and educating children about nutrition, we can preserve the fun of Halloween while supporting the long-term health of our youth. After all, it’s not just about what’s in the treat bag — it’s about how we help kids make sense of it.
Professor emeritus Kathy Kolasa, a registered dietitian nutritionist and Ph.D., is an affiliate professor in the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. Contact her at kolasaka@ecu.edu.
Kathy
Kolasa
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