As Halloween approaches, health experts are offering advice on how to manage children's sugar intake during the holiday and the days that follow. The average child consumes about three cups of sugar, or 144 teaspoons, on Halloween, which is more than four times their daily intake and 24 times the recommended daily amount, according to Newswise.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children over the age of 2 should have less than 25 grams or 6 teaspoons of sugar per day. Adults should also limit their sugar intake, with men recommended to have no more than 9 teaspoons of sugar, and women 6 teaspoons per day.
To mitigate sugar intake during Halloween, experts suggest having a healthy dinner before trick-or-treating so that children are full before the sugar rush. They also recommend waiting until the last minute to buy candy so it's not hanging around the house, and considering donating some candy.
Camila Martin, a clinical pediatric nutritionist with UW Health Kids, advises parents 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 in an interview with WMTV.
Martin also warns against trying to ban or hide candy as it could lead to unhealthy fixations or habits. Instead, she suggests focusing on the costumes, decorations, or crafts during Halloween to divert attention from the candy.
Links
https://www.newswise.com/articles/trick-or-treat-tips-to-limit-sugar-on-halloween-to-enjoy-a-healthy-halloweenhttps://www.wmtv15news.com/2024/10/27/uw-health-use-halloween-talk-about-candy-consumption-healthy-habits-with-kids/https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/oct/29/why-you-shouldnt-be-afraid-to-let-your-kids-eat-a/