Halloween Candy Q&A – part 2

Ready for more answers to your Halloween candy questions? From the switch witch to hyperactivity, I answer the rest of the most commonly asked Halloween candy questions in this post. If you want to watch/listen, check out the video below. If you prefer to read through the Q&A, then keep scrolling!

Thoughts on the switch witch?

I don’t like it. With a caveat.  First I’ll explain what the switch witch is, why I don’t like it, and then I’ll explain what the caveat is.

The switch witch is when parents ask their kids to set out Halloween candy after a night of trick or treating and the candy is swapped by the “switch witch” for toys.  Some parents do some candy and some do all candy.  Some require participating in the switch witch tradition, and some make it optional.

Here’s how the switch witch can be harmful:

• If you portray this message, either with your words or your actions 👉 “candy is bad and we need to get rid of it – you MUST give up all your candy”
• If you force a child to relinquish the candy that they do not want to give up (if not a safety concern).
• If you do the switch witch in secret

If you get an incredibly overwhelming amount of candy and your child wants to do something with it, I don’t recommend using the switch witch as a solution.  Ideally, I want a child to feel like they can just… leave it. Or forget it if they are no longer interested. If a child is no longer interested in a toy, do you always swap it out for something more exciting? Or do you encourage them to donate it or move on?

• Personally, I would encourage my kids to find another use for their candy or simply throw it away (I KNOW, food waste) if they were uninterested. Something like art projects or holiday gingerbread houses.

Here’s how the switch witch can be helpful:

• If your child has a food allergy and you want to give them an alternative to the unsafe candy on Halloween. I recommend offering BOTH food and non-food items so it doesn’t give the impression that candy is elusive or moralize candy as “bad”
• If I did do the switch witch, here’s how I would approach it with my kids:
  • Ask your child how much they’d like to keep and how much they’d like to switch.  Ultimately, what we want to avoid is your child feeling like candy is bad or they HAVE to give up candy that they actually want to keep.
  • Don’t make it a secret or a big deal.  I might say something like: “I know it’s frustrating that most of the candy on Halloween can make you sick.  I want you to have something fun on Halloween, so here are your choices” and then give options.

Is the “parent tax” a bad thing?

I don’t recommend stealing your kid’s candy. That is only going to cause them to hoard or hide their candy. BUT if I am trick or treating with my kids, I absolutely request snacks along the way. The more I am fueled, the longer the kids can go.

Despite my best effort at neutrality, my kid is obsessed with candy. What do I do?

Don’t give up.  And get professional support if you are feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.  Helping a child reduce a sweets obsession can be a very long haul.  Especially if this is a new idea to an older child, tween, or teen.  And remember that REALLY liking candy is not the same as an obsession.  I love candy.  I have a sweet tooth.  And I still have a healthy relationship with food.  In my opinion, an obsession looks like sneaking candy, constant tantrums about candy, constant demands or requests for candy, etc.

Candy at breakfast? How do I explain that it won’t make them feel good?

Yes, sometimes I serve candy at breakfast. Especially around Halloween. Here is how I approach it:

• I usually offer one unwrapped piece and allow them to ask for more during breakfast. 
• On school mornings I limit this because my kids take FOREVER to eat breakfast when it’s accompanied by sweets.
• Offer alongside safe, favorite, and filling foods to maximize the possibility of eating things other than candy
• Offer choice in the other foods eaten to increase the likelihood that they’ll eat them.  “Do you want yogurt or protein pancakes with your candy?”
• Use novelty and fun to increase the appeal of the other foods on the plate.  Sprinkles and food picks are my fav novelty items right now.
• I usually don’t explain that they won’t feel good.  I might, in the moment, say something if I notice they aren’t feeling good after and we can talk about why.

If you are worried that your child will eat so much that they get sick, you can watch this video here.

How do I set rules and boundaries around candy?

First, go back to the last post where I answer the question about how I manage access to Halloween candy in my house. Let’s address how to do this for kids vs. teens – because the approach will be different. Let’s also talk about this after the actual day of (and day after) Halloween – AKA once your eating routine starts to get back to normal.

For kids:

• You provide the food, your child decides if they want to eat and how much.
• Sometimes offer candy, and sometimes don’t.
• Make other foods fun too.

For teens:

• Work with them to decide your approach.
• Will there be unrestricted access to the candy?  If so, is there an expectation that they also feed themselves other food?  What does that look like?  Do they need reminders?  How can you support them in this?
• Something like: “I know you have learned how to fuel your body while you enjoy delicious foods.  Here’s where you can store your candy.  If I am worried that you are not providing your body with enough of what it needs, we will figure out a solution together.”

Where to store candy? In the kitchen or in their rooms?

Letting a kid store their candy in their room may be a useful tool for a child who has experienced food trauma. But generally I don’t think it’s necessary to let kids keep food in their room. Whether or not you decide to do this is a personal choice.  I have a boundary in my house that all food stays in the kitchen to avoid mess.

Should you introduce candy before Halloween?

If you are already working on a healthy relationship with sweets in your house, I don’t think this is necessary. However, if your child feels restricted about candy, this may be a good tool to help counteract the sweets obsession and make candy feel less elusive. In our house, we usually do have Halloween candy before Halloween because — we just like candy.

When they get TONS of candy – what to do?

I let my kids keep the candy that they get on Halloween.  Whether it’s a lot or a little.  And I generally recommend that parents do the same. If you find a good cause to donate the candy to, that is a great option! But I don’t recommend forcing your kids to do that. In the last post, I discussed my approach to kids eating all the candy at once and when to allow unrestricted access.

What to do when my kids are a range of ages?

I think your approach will have to be different for each age (the parent asking this said their kids are ages 2, 3, 6, and 10).

Will it make the younger siblings upset that their big siblings have freedoms that they don’t? Probably. For these 4 ages here, my biggest difference would be the choking hazard foods. For example, your 10 year old can have choking hazard foods that your two year old can’t.  I explain this matter of fact to the toddler and support them in their feelings.

But I do not restrict the older one because of things that their younger sibling can’t have.  And I do not give freedoms to my younger kids that are not age appropriate simply because their older sibling can do those things. I DO ask my oldest to be discrete and not brag about the freedoms she has that her younger siblings do not. But this is my personal approach.  Some families may do things differently.

I also try my best to find an alternative or individualized solution for each child so they still feel that their needs are being met. But this is easier said than done with more kids.

Does candy make kids hyper?

No. Candy does not make kids hyperactive. The circumstances when candy is served are often exciting and new – THAT makes kids hyper. Here is some evidence to support this:

• This 1995 landmark meta-analysis demonstrated no significant effect on hyperactivity or behavior in children.
• This more recent 2017 article that also found the same thing (and found no affect on sleep too).
• This study found that parents reported that their kids were more hyperactive when they THOUGHT their kids had sugar, even if they didn’t.

There is a HUGE “sugar expectancy” among parents.  Parents are conditioned by this pervasive myth that their kids will be hyper after sugar.  They see it, they believe it, so it’s real to them.  Even if an unbiased observer wouldn’t find that to be true.

• The placebo effect is powerful and what you expect to happen is powerful.  No one is above that.
• The excitement of the holidays, of being out of routine, the change in sleep habits, the overstimulating or new sensory experiences.  THOSE can have a big impact on a child’s behavior.  This is what makes your kid hyperactive or seem hyperactive.  Not the sugar itself.

How to respond when my kids’ teacher says candy will give them cavities?

In a repair situation like this, I prefer to stick to the facts. I might say something like:

“Sugar does feed bacteria on our teeth, which can cause cavities.”

“There are things we can do to help us not get cavities.  Brushing our teeth, drinking water, eating food like cheese after we eat candy, chewing gum after we eat candy, or eating our candy alongside other food like veggies or our dinner.”

“Eating candy does not automatically mean you will get cavities.”

How to respond to “Is candy healthy”?

Here are a few things I might say, depending on the age of the child:

• Healthy is a tricky word because it means different things for different people.
• Lots of people will say that candy is unhealthy because it doesn’t have the same things in it like fruits or vegetables do. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t eat candy.
• Food is not just about eating healthy.  Food is also about what tastes good, celebrating fun holidays, and having fun.
• I like the way candy tastes, so I eat it. But I also know that other foods make my body feel good, so I eat those too.
• Our body needs lots of different things from food.  And we can’t get all the things we need if we just eat candy.  Or only broccoli.  Or only cheese.

Food dyes in candy

We have no evidence to suggest that kids without ADHD or an allergy to food dyes need to avoid food dyes. If you want more details (and science 🤓) about this topic, check out this video.

According to a 2012 meta analysis (PMID: 22176942), For SOME kids (up to 8%) who have ADHD, certain food dyes may worsen symptoms. These effects were only significant from parent reports, not teacher or observer reports. The improvement effect of avoiding food dyes (the actual ones varied across studies) was approx 1/3 to 1/6 the effect size of a medication approved for ADHD symptoms. Studies that looked at actual psychometric testing (rather than parent/observer report) were small AND studies that looked at only FDA approved food dyes (rather than ones from other countries) are also limited. So the data is there, but it’s certainly not conclusive.

I’m not telling you that you SHOULD or SHOULDN’T offer foods with food dye to your kid.  I’ve shared the evidence here and you can do with that what you find is best for your family.

My partner and I disagree about the candy approach – help!

I think I would start here with trying to understand his perspective.  What is his goal? Is it to have healthy kids?  Has he been affected by diet culture or weight stigma in his life?

Ultimately, I think you both probably have the same goal. You love your kids and you want them to be healthy, happy, and successful. Listen to how they feels that their approach to food will contribute to that. Say the same about your approach to food. How can you find a common ground?

And if you are still struggling with this topic, find a therapist or dietitian who can discuss this with you.  I’ve been asked this frequently and always feel like this falls more into the wheelhouse of a couples therapist than myself as a dietitian!

Is there data to support this intuitive eating approach to candy?

Yes.  Here are three articles that talk about how restriction doesn’t decrease a child’s intake of that food and often will increase desire for that food AND increase the chid’s intake of the restricted food. This is in addition to the other research mentioned above and in part 1.

• Article 1
• Article 2
• Article 3

That’s it for the Halloween Q&A! If you missed part 1, check that out here.

Sending love and feeding wins your way!

❤️ Dr. Taylor