Candy, costumes and fun: But stay healthy and safe
It’s an all American holiday that centers around candy, snacks, overeating and running around town from street to street. But sometimes this favorite holiday known as Halloween can turn into an upset stomach, a cavity, an accident or a missing child. Every year there are Halloween mishaps across the nation. Someone gets a treat that’s been tampered with, experiences some sort of accident or ends up lost on an unfamiliar street.So, what’s the best way to stay healthy and safe on Halloween? Well, following some simple rules and common sense advice is the first step, and Kate Shumaker, MS, RD, LD, local Holmes County Ohio State University Extension Family and Consumer Sciences educator, has plenty of great ideas to keep you and your little ghosts and goblins safe, healthy and happy this year.
The first suggestion from Shumaker deals with curtailing some of that Halloween sugar by offering kids fun and healthy alternatives. Overloading on candy can be bad for the belly and bad for the teeth. Most kids will be just as happy with a less sugary treat or a novelty item instead.
“A few years ago, a study by Louisiana State University showed that kids between the ages of three and 14 were just as likely to choose a non-food treat as a food treat when given the choice,” Shumaker explained. “There are lots of good alternatives that kids may like just as well as candy for Halloween. Growing up, my mother refused to give out candy for Halloween. She gave out pencils, stickers, tattoos, and boxes of raisins. I have followed in her shoes and am always pleasantly surprised to see how excited the kids are with the ‘different’ treats they receive at Trick-or-Treat.”
If you’d rather give an edible treat, that’s fine, but be creative and take the time to offer something healthier. Shumaker suggested small bags of pretzels, mini bags of microwave popcorn, string cheese, granola bars, sugar-free gum, instant cocoa packets and juice boxes. However, if you’d like to try some Halloween non-food treats, you may want to offer pencils, pens, stickers, erasers, play dough, bubbles, note pads, finger puppets and coloring books.
“These are just a beginning,” she added. “I’m sure everyone could come up with more items to add. Just remember that Halloween trick-or-treating does not have to be all about giving and receiving candy. As an added bonus, non-food treats can be stored for next year.”
In addition to staying healthy, parents need to remember the basic safety issues surrounding this busy and hectic holiday. There are three main areas where safety reminders may be needed: costume safety, treats and general trick-or-treating precautions.
“When considering costumes for Halloween, it’s important that eye holes be large enough to allow for a full range of vision,” Shumaker said. “Kids need to be able to see and see well when trick-or-treating. If the costume has props, such as knives, swords, or pitchforks, these items should have smooth edges and be made of flexible material, in case of falls. Wearing bright colors and reflective areas on costumes and treat bags allow the child to be easily seen in low light and this is very important. Make sure your child’s costume fits. Avoid long, trailing costumes and ill-fitting shoes that could be tripping hazards and look for costumes and accessories that are flame-resistant as well.”
When it comes to the actual process of trick-or-treating, there are lots of basic safety precautions that kids need to be reminded of over and over. Shumaker suggested explaining to children (once again) the importance of looking both ways before crossing the street, because sometimes the excitement of Halloween can cause kids to disregard some of the most basic rules.
“Kids need to be reminded of those basic safety rules when crossing streets and alleys,” she said. “If you’re a driver on trick-or-treat night, make sure you are careful and pay extra attention while driving. It’s always best for a parent or responsible adult to accompany young children when trick-or-treating. Teaching older children to stay in groups and to only go to homes with the porch lights on is another good rule. Kids should also carry a flashlight and never go into a stranger’s home for a treat. Staying in familiar neighborhoods is also safer than wandering off into unknown territory.”
Having a parent inspect all the goodies before consumption is a good plan of action as well. Homemade treats and anything with a damaged wrapper should be discarded immediately. No fruits or other treats that aren’t in a store wrapper should be considered safe.
Making sure your child has an appropriate and safe costume, knows the trick-or-treat rules and sticks close to you on Halloween night are the best ways to avoid a mishap.
Remember, it’s a fun time of celebration that can turn into an accident or regret in just a split second. Don’t take any chances, stay safe, stay healthy and have fun!