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Halloween safety 101: treats
Halloween: it’s the one day of the year when kids and grownups alike can transform into anything their mischievous minds can imagine—from princesses and paupers to rock stars, wranglers, dinosaurs and divas.
It’s a great opportunity to spend time as a family carving pumpkins, making costumes and planning parties together.
A tip for enjoying the day’s treats: Parents should take some extra safety precautions, especially as kids head out for trick-or-treating, says Laura Miccile, supervisor of the Center for Childhood Safety at MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Center.
Caution kids to wait until they get home before eating any goodies, Miccile advises. A responsible adult should sort and check treats for any signs of tampering. To be safe, kids should only eat factory-wrapped treats, advises the CDC.
MultiCare Center for Healthy Living Wellness Dietitian Chelsey Lindahl offers tips to counteract the wealth of sugar about to fill trick or treat bags and stomachs:
- For the whole family: offset the sugar rush by having a healthy meal before trick-or-treating filled with fiber rich whole grains, fruits and vegetables. These foods can help slow the absorption of sugar in the blood stream and may also help prevent or lessen a wicked sugar crash after trick-or-treating.
- For parents and guardians: remember calories from fun-size candy can add up quickly (each piece contains an average of 50 to 100 calories). Practice moderation and keep healthy snacks close by so you’re not spooked when cravings turn to autopilot.
- For kids and teens: balance the sugar from Halloween candy by providing water or low-fat milk to drink instead of soda. Also, after a long night of trick or treating make sure kiddos brush their teeth to prevent dental cavities.
- For everyone: when eating treats remember to eat slowly and savor the moment. Consider saving Halloween treats and limiting intake to a few pieces per day; this spread out the pleasure and the calories.
Posted on Oct 31, 2012 in Kids' Health
