Win the war on sugar

Worried about the candy struggle with kids? Consumers will spend about $2.6 billion on Halloween candy this fall, based on a survey by the National Retail Federation.

Here are some ideas to add some balance and control to that mixed bag of candy.

On. Nov. 1, some dental offices in the Spokane area buy Halloween candy back at $1 per pound, under a program that sends the excess candy to U.S. Troops. A few places to check include KIDDS Dental in Liberty Lake, DaBell Orthodontics in Spokane Valley, South Hill Pediatric Dentistry, and Orban Family Dental in Coeur d’Alene.

Family household tips can bring both a little sweetness and a balance with better nutrition, according to author and sociologist Dr. Dina Rose, who wrote, “It’s not about the Broccoli: Three Habits to Teach Your Kids for a Lifetime of Healthy Eating.”

She suggests:

Create a candy container. Put sweets into one place – maybe a large clear jar – with parameters on how much and how often candy can be enjoyed based on household rules, such as eating a bit after dinner. Focus on habits. Sweets and treats are part of life, but in correct ratios.

Have a meal first. Teach children to save room for their Halloween candy by giving them a small meal before trick-or-treating. Remind them to pay attention to their tummies.

Offer a trade. Consider letting a child trade their candy for something else, such as a trip to the toy store or to buy a book.

Turn it into a sensory game. Rather than gobbling, this is a chance for kids, especially the picky eater to be encouraged to smell a candy item, feel it, touch it and look at it.

Create natural boundaries. Reduce the number of houses or neighborhoods your kids can go to, or make their collection bag somewhat smaller. Put focus on the experience around costumes, games and decorations.