Tips for safely consuming trick-or-treating and candy this Halloween

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

To ensure all children have spooky fun this Halloween, it’s important that parents put safe trick-or-treating plans in place and include children with food allergies in the holiday celebrations.

Quad Whitson, associate of the Culinary Nutrition Extension Program at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said it is critical for parents to always accompany young children while trick-or-treating.

“If you’re trick-or-treating at night, stay close and always keep an eye on them,” Whitson said. “Some Halloween activities will be offered earlier during the day at churches, local businesses, community centers, schools or trunk-or-treat events in parking lots. Attending such events can be safer and also allows your child to maintain a regular bedtime.”

For older children who have been given permission to go trick-or-treating with their friends, Whitson said parents should establish and review an acceptable and safe path for them to follow.

“Emphasize staying together as a group and help brainstorm ideas to ensure everyone gets home safely at a predetermined time,” he said.

Parents should also talk about the importance of minimizing distractions while walking, especially for children who have access to electronic devices.

“Staying on well-lit streets and using sidewalks and established crosswalks can reduce the risk of unfortunate vehicle accidents,” Whitson said. “Motorists often have difficulty recognizing children, especially if their costume colors are not eye-catching and do not blend in with their surroundings. Consider adding reflective tape or stripes to costumes to improve visibility.”

Whitson said parents should also keep the following practices in mind:

• Remind children never to enter a stranger’s house or allow a person or people they do not know to give them a ride home.
• Before letting children eat candy, sort and inspect it to make sure it hasn’t been tampered with. Inspect all treats carefully and throw away anything unwrapped, spoiled, or suspicious. If in doubt, throw it away!
• Depending on the child’s age, some treats may pose a choking hazard. Babies and toddlers should not have candy, popcorn, chewing gum, small candies, or anything with nuts or seeds.

Building a healthy relationship with sweets

Whitson said that while parents may be tempted to enforce strict, rigid rules around their children’s candy consumption, this can be an opportunity for children to “learn mindfulness and remain calm around sweet treats.”

“As a parent, you have your child’s best interests in mind, which can lead to concerns that your child may ‘eat too much candy’ or become ‘addicted’ to sugar on this holiday when candy is in abundance,” said Whitson. “These fears that parents have about their children can usually be traced back to their own experiences as children. Maybe you’ve been told that you’ll “ruin your teeth” or maybe even “gain weight” if you eat too much “junk food” or sweets.

“It is essential to build positive relationships around all foods, including sweets,” Whitson said. “The best way to achieve this is to not over-manage your child during this joyful time and instead allow them to learn from their experiences – most children learn that eating way too much candy is not necessarily a good thing is, and learn to regulate their consumption.” full of treats on the street.”

Whitson suggested approaching the situation with kindness and care and discussing the problem together, rather than getting angry and punishing children for eating too much candy.

“Ask why they think they feel sick, what they could do next time to avoid the same feeling, and finally explain that overeating candy takes the fun out of Halloween.”

During the first two years of life, children don’t need candy and other sugary treats like soda and sports drinks. Children ages two to four who haven’t had much opportunity to develop self-regulation skills need help managing their candy supply.

“Try to help them by giving them an appropriate daily amount of candy throughout the day – perhaps two or three pieces – and giving them the opportunity to choose when they want to eat it, such as one for a snack, lunch or and dinner,” Whitson said. “Children older than four are likely willing to manage their candy supply with boundaries, such as when and where parents decide to eat.”

Whitson said this approach can help manage some of the negative effects of high sugar consumption, such as tooth decay and digestive problems.

Even if you have food allergies, make time for fun

Whitson said it’s important that children with food allergies aren’t left out of Halloween fun with friends and family.

“Go meet your child,” Whitson said. “Halloween can be scary for parents of children with food allergies, but allowing them to participate in events like trick-or-treating with their friends can still happen.

“To better accommodate them, set up “safe houses” on your designated route by talking to friends or neighbors to see if they could have allergy-friendly or non-food treats available for your child when they come over. so it can still participate and get the classic Halloween experience,” Whitson said.

Parents might also try the following ideas:

• Consider a “trading system” with your child. This system involves your child exchanging a candy or treat they receive for safe candy or snacks or perhaps toys that they normally enjoy.
• Make Halloween more than just candy. Brainstorm with your child about other aspects of the holiday, such as: B. about designing his costume, carving pumpkins or planning a Halloween party with games and carefully selected foods.

Parents should always have adrenaline and other life-saving medications with them. Make sure you always have your child’s adrenaline device on hand in case of an emergency.

“Sometimes accidents happen, but being prepared can ease the tension during this time and make the experience more enjoyable for everyone,” Whitson said.

To learn more about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service representative or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture’s research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: Follow X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Agriculture Department, visit us on X at @AgInArk.

About the Agriculture Department

The mission of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is to strengthen agriculture, communities and families by combining trustworthy research with the implementation of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Department of Agriculture conducts research and extension work under the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Department of Agriculture is one of 20 units within the University of Arkansas system. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty at five system locations.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all of its extension and research programs to all eligible individuals without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or genetic information or have other legally protected status and are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer.

• Consider a “trading system” with your child. This system consists of your child taking action

Swap out a candy or treat they receive for safe candy or snacks or perhaps toys they receive

would normally enjoy it.

• Make Halloween more than just candy. Brainstorm other topics with your child

Aspects of the holiday, such as making a costume, carving pumpkins, or planning one

Halloween party with games and carefully selected food.

Parents should always have adrenaline and other life-saving medications with them. Make sure you always do this

Have an adrenaline machine ready for your child in case of an emergency.

“Accidents sometimes happen, but being prepared can help ease tensions during this time.

This makes the experience more enjoyable for everyone,” Whitson said.

To learn more about Extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension

Customer Service Representative or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension.

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture’s research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment

Station website: Follow X at @ArkAgResearch. To find out more about it

Visit the Department of Agriculture. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

About the Agriculture Department

The mission of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is to strengthen agriculture.

communities and families by combining trusted research with the adoption of best practices.

Through the agricultural experimental station and the cooperative extension service

The Department of Agriculture conducts research and extension work on the country’s historic lands

provide education system.

The Department of Agriculture is one of 20 units within the University of Arkansas system. It has

Offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty at five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all of its extension and research

Programs open to all eligible individuals without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, or sexuality

orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information,

or have other legally protected status and is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.