Most of us don’t really know how much sugar affects us because we never go too long without it. We are so used to it that we don’t really notice how sick it makes us. It’s much worse for children: proportionally to their size, they eat much more of the stuff. And it shows: behavioral problems, moodiness, lack of energy, acne, digestive issues, inability to concentrate… the list of negative effects is endless.
So what’s this simple secret I’m talking about? Make sure your children eat well and drink enough water during Halloween season, especially when they’re going trick-or-treating. Too simple to be true? Well, just try it.
What does “eat well” mean? Plan for a hearty, abundant breakfast they like: maybe eggs or oatmeal w/ milk or cream — made from scratch, not packaged. No boxed cereal as it has a lot of sugar already. Send them to school with something irresistible like baked chicken w/ peas and carrots or a nice sandwich made on wheat bread, and focus on hearty snacks they like — cheese, whole milk yogurt, nuts. Halloween is not the day for light eating: fat brings satiety — the feeling that you ate enough.
Make an effort to have a family dinner and prepare a wholesome one you know they’ll enjoy. A dish with winter squash or sweet potato would be perfect: sweet veggies satisfy sugar cravings — check out this recipe for Roasted Winter Squash and Apple Soup. Steak or chicken and other veggies they like. Or maybe a nice thick stew with beans and/or meat and veggies. Encourage them to eat until they’re full.
There’s another important element here: your mindset. Don’t push them to eat candy just because it’s Halloween. Have a beginners mind approach, as if you were completely unfamiliar with the tradition. Don’t be nagging, but don’t encourage it. Halloween fun doesn’t come from eating candy. It comes from the novelty of dressing up and hanging out with friends. And your good example is crucial: stay away from candy if just for today, for your children.
This is not rocket science: there’s just so much candy they can fit in their bellies when properly nourished. They’ll naturally crave sugar less because their blood sugar level will be more stable. They might have some candy, but it will be substantially less if you are on board, supporting a healthier way.
You would do anything for your children right? Well, this is just a little effort in exchange for all the benefit they — and you — will get. Just try it!
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