The Halloween Dilemma
(adapted from Christi's 10/06 Nourishing Nuggets newsletter)
Ben, Evan, and I moved into our very first house this
summer. Which means - I get to welcome trick-or-treaters to my door for the very first time! Part of me is really excited. I can't wait to meet all of my new neighbors.
The other part of me wants to turn off all the lights and hide on October 31, so no one knows I'm home.
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My Dilemma:
My business (and passion) is helping busy people figure out how to eat healthy and give themselves permission to take insanely good care of themselves.
One of the best ways to eat healthy and take care of
yourself is:
Avoid Candy!
Most of us know that candy is addictive. Once you have even a little bit, you need/want more. Trust me, I know, because I usually get addicted to Candy Corn this time of year. And I spent my entire childhood just waiting to my sugar high every Halloween.
** Christi's 2007 note: this year, I haven't had a bite of candy corn. Why? I haven't bought any. Avoidance works wonders for cravings :) **
Have you noticed how candy wreaks havoc on kids' tiny
bodies? It makes them hyper, then sad, then moody. It makes them hungry, cranky, and unfocused.
(Psst - all of those side effects happen to adults, too.)
Now that I know what sugar really does to our bodies and mood, giving out candy to trick-or-treaters makes me feel like a hypocrite. I'm supposed to be helping families get healthier, not sicker!
By giving out candy, I know I'm contributing to the health problems - like diabetes, obesity, and ADD - that are pervasive in today's youth population.
If you want to learn more, this list includes the 76 ways
sugar harms your health.
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The introvert in me says, "Christi, just turn off the
lights, hide, and pretend you're not home. Then you won't have to give out candy at all."
The health counselor and mom in me says, "Christi, hiding won't solve anything. You're going to face this dilemma every Halloween. Why not take a stand and hand out something healthier than candy?"
That's when the high schooler in me speaks up. The high schooler is the part of me that wants to fit in, to be
popular, to have people like me.
In other words, the part of me who doesn't want to be known in our new neighborhood as:
"The Lady In The Green House Who Gives Out Raisins for Halloween!"
You see, when my brothers and I went trick-or-treating as kids, we avoided the houses that gave out raisins. Yuck!
Do I really want to be "That Lady?"
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I sat with this decision for a while, and tried to figure
out what to do. It's a tough decision.
If I hand out something really healthy like raisins,
there's a good chance the kids will throw them in the trash or hand them right over to mom and dad.
If I hand out healthy and delicious homemade treats like
popcorn balls or healthy cookies, the parents will throw
them out because they won't come in "safe" pre-wrapped colorful plastic bags.
When I explained my dilemma to my husband, he said,
"Christi, it's just one night out of the whole year, and everyone else in our neighborhood will hand out candy, you know."
I know, I know. Trust me, sweetheart, I know. The high schooler in me wants to hand out jumbo-size candy bars so I'll be the most popular mom on the block.
But just because everyone else has done it this way forever doesn't mean that we should continue to do it.
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When I really thought about it, I realized that handing out candy on Halloween affects more than just the kids who trick or treat. Do you know why?
Because the candy that's left over from Halloween ends up in candy bowls all across corporate America, where we adults eat and eat at 3:00 p.m. every day until all the candy is gone.
One of my readers responded to this part of the newsletter and said,
"I have been putting off buying candy because I know I will "try" a piece here and there and end up eating the entire bag, and having to get some more. Then of course there is the leftovers issue that you addressed, and again, I'll end up eating that too. So I've just been putting it off. Now, thanks to you, I have alternative choices and if there are left overs, it won't be a huge deal if I helped myself to a few tid bits." - Raina
Halloween candy ends up in mom and dad's bellies,
because we are just as addicted as our kids. Many parents I spoke with this year said that they love to use trick or treating as an excuse to buy candy.
Because I coach women who are trying to get over their
sugar addictions, I see Halloween as part of our
self-sabotaging Holiday cycle.
You see, the sugary habits we create during Halloween feed our sweet addiction during the holiday season. Sometimes, our Halloween stash lasts us until Thanksgiving, so once that holiday rolls around, we're already addicted to sugar.
That means, we can't help but binge on pies and cookies and party cocktails. Our sweet tooths are just too strong by that point.
The truth is... how we approach Halloween sets the tone for the rest of the year.
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So, what did I decide to do this year for Halloween?
Well, I imagined what the world would be like if we all stopped handing out candy at Halloween - and handed out something healthy instead.
And I decided I liked that image a lot better than the
image of me wearing a "Most Popular Neighborhood Mom" ribbon.
So this year, I decided to go with what I know is best for all those kids coming to my door. I 'm handing out healthy treats and glow-in-the-dark sticks. Yes, it might be a bit more expensive and the treats might very well end up in the trash.
But that's OK. Because, in the end, it's not about the
treats. It's about creating a change. It's about inviting other families to give themselves permission to eat a little healthier and say no to the unhealthy habits we've all gotten into (and I'm guilty as anyone).
I've decided that I'm OK being known as
The-Lady-In-The-Green-House-Who-Hands-Out-Fruit-Leather-Bars-and-Glow-In-The-Dark-Thingies.
Being healthy IS cool, and at Boston Health Coach, we're starting a new rebellion - the rebellion to eat healthy, live juicy, and practice guilt-free self-care.
This year, the rebellion starts with Halloween.
Care to join us?!
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Healthy Halloween Treats
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If you're looking for some candy alternatives to hand out
this Halloween, I'd like to offer some food ideas for you:
- Boxes of organic raisins
- Bags of trail mix
- Sunspire drops (alternative to candy-coated chocolate)
- 100% mini juice boxes
- Endangered Species Bug Bites (kosher, vegan, gluten-free)
- Barbara's Snackimals or Fig Bars
- Chocolate-covered raisins
- Individually-wrapped, 100% natural, no-sugar added
Stretch Island Fruit Leather (**this is what I'm doing **)
- Earth Balls or Bug Bites (individually wrapped chocolate
pieces)
- Maya Bars
- Lara Bars
- Bottled water
You don't have to hand out food on Halloween, either... most kids love to get toys and other goodies. These can be a fun, cheap alternative to candy... and other moms have told me they've had great success with party goodies like these. Here are some ideas:
- Pencils
- Stickers
- Halloween-themed crayons, pencils, or tattoos
- Toy rings or hair barrettes
- Small toys and other goodies (try oneline store The Oriental Trading Company)
- Party favors like whistles, notebooks, erasers, etc.
- Glow-in-the-dark necklaces, insects, or sticks
Hint: buy these the day before - or day of - Halloween, and you'll get them at amazing discount prices. Mine were 90% off when I bought them Halloween morning! So, hit those Dollar Stores on Nov. 1!
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Another reader commented on the toy idea:
"I would opt for the cool non-edible treat. That way you can still be up for the “Coolest Mom on the Block” award. I remember when I was a kid trick-or-treating in the early ‘70’s, there was an older couple, the Compton’s, across the street from me who gave out old-fashioned noise makers – metal ones you would spin around, metal “clackers” with two mallets that would thwack up against a small sheet of metal, and others. Mrs. Compton had them all displayed on a tray and would present them to you and you got to choose which one you wanted. It’s the only treat that I can vividly remember from my trick-or-treating career, and the Compton’s still have a special place in my heart because of those treats." - Richard in NY
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A mom commented on a cool idea she got on a moms' list:
: The Halloween Fairy! My daughter is going to leave all the candy in the bucket on Halloween night (at least so goes the plan), and then the next morning she'll find a cool toy she's been wanting! - Lisa
Another piece of feedback:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about Halloween candy and being the cool mom. When I was growing up, my mom was that lady in the grey house who gave out sugarfree gum, toothbrushes, and light popcorn. I never knew what the other kids in the neighborhood thought of her or the treats she gave out, but in case you were wondering, she never had anything left at the end of the night. Fruit leather sounds delicious. - Marielle
Some more ideas from readers:
"This was my favorite newsletter yet, and I've enjoyed them all. I too have this dilemma, and have decided to hand out little games and toys, fake hands and feet (lord only knows what you can do with them) to stop the insanity. My mother thinks I am punishing my child, well I say I am saving him from years of addiction to sugar, headaches, sickness', etc. The opposite of punishment, in fact. So good for you, Christi, for not giving in to your inner high schooler, and following your heart. This is the way we are going to change the world, one person at a time." - Shawna
"I just wanted to add to your list of healthier options -- last year we gave out Walnut Acres Organic Unsweetened Apple Sauce in the tubes that look like yogurt tubes. They can be frozen and eaten as popsicles too. I really like your idea of Oriental Trading Co and I'm going to check them out before I do food again this year, although we have a neighborhood party instead of going door to door, and so I am thinking of doing homemade treats since the Moms will all know me at the party." - Barbara
"The stuff you mention that isn't food (pencils, stickers etc.) are good ideas, but the best one I can suggest also comes from Oriental Trading Company: buy glow necklaces for the kids to wear! It will be quite different from all the other things people give out, the kids will get a kick out of it, and best of all, if they wear them after they leave your house, they'll be safer on the streets because cars and bikes will see them better. How wonderful is that? And you'll be known as "That really cool lady who gives out glowsticks!" The only drawback is that these things aren't cheap. On the other hand, you can buy quite a few and any leftovers will be enjoyed by your own family." - Joanne
"How about next year tooth brushes with your name and phone number as a health coach...there's the healthy part and advertising all in one! My sister "n" law is a dentist and every year does this. She felt like she was being scrooge but as her children have gotten older..they think it's neat and so do their friends." - Corky
"We always give out pretzels. they sell at sam's club in halloween colored bags and are perfect for this." - Kris
"One year I bought mini Mad Libs books (they make them for Halloween) and handed them out. But you could get any kind of little games/party favors at the dollar store, and I bet kids would appreciate them just as much as candy. So you can be popular AND healthy!" - Diana
"One associate of mine bought multiple orange chapsticks and put her business labels on them...all of her little and bigger goblins loved them. No complaints - I think you all are on to something!" - Alene
"For over 20 years, I have been handing out small toys instead of candy. They really don't cost that much more and the ones that are leftover keep until the next year. The kids REALLY enjoy them, because they tell the other kids where they received the stretchy frog or bouncy ball or whatever. I also keep larger toys for the very little ones." - Jane
