Masquerading as health

My sister and I used to love dumping our candy loot on the ground and organize it into categories right after Halloween. My sister would tear through her candy, but not me. I'd eat a few pieces and save the rest to eat over time so I could torture her with a Reese's in the dark days of February. 

As a kid, I also loved meeting my friend on her bike so we could ride into town to the local pharmacy where I would buy my favorite candy. My friend and I would swap sweets and laughs on Saturday mornings. 

Going Trick or Treating with our kids last night reminded me that sweets and candy were a part of my childhood. My favorites, Twizzlers and Reese's, still bring a little thrill with the first bite. But there was a period of time during my dieting days where I wouldn't go near candy. Too much sugar, too many "empty" calories, and not even close to a "clean" food. 

If you're staring a pile of leftover candy in the face this morning and feeling nervous instead of nostalgic, I've got you. 

Worried your kids like candy too much? 
An article in the NYT this weekend by Tara Parker Pope reminded readers that kids can have a preference towards sweets that's twenty times adult preferences towards sweets. TWENTY TIMES. This makes sense. Kids are growing at such a rapid pace that their body naturally seeks foods high in calories and fat that are easily digestible and taste great. 

Worried you need to take control for you child?
What's more is that parents masquerading as health crusaders by restricting their child's intake of sweets or "unhealthy" foods could actually be causing more harm. Research shows that kids who experience a lot of restriction around foods (looking at you dieting parents) often grow up developing unhealthy eating habits. 

Maybe I should just donate it all to my dentist or the candy fairy?
Allowance is key. This doesn't mean that you need to let your child eat their entire loot in one sitting. I like to give kids a chance to eat anything they want during Trick or Treat and the following day. On subsequent days, I'll offer a piece as part of lunch and/or dinner and as a snack option. After a week, we're back to offering a sweet with dinner. Offering sweet foods mixed right in with apples or granola bars allows kids to see food as food instead of elevating certain foods. Kids need the opportunity to explore a wide variety of foods, including sweets. Teaching your child to trust their body is incredibly important. 

Maybe I should offer the candy as a reward for good behavior?
The last thing you want to do is offer candy as a reward. Everyone is deserving of food along the taste spectrum regardless of their behavior. The reward system very often backfires as kids creative a negative link with food they have to eat (like vegetables) to get another food (like candy). 

I'm off to rummage the candy bags for more of my favorites. They probably won't know if I take just one, or two, or three.