Halloween is here! This year, why not make it a healthier one?

Did you know that the average child collects about 5,000 calories worth of candy on Halloween? We know that all that sugar isn't good for kids, no matter what their weight. And just think of all the Halloween candy you've bought for "the kids" in the past and then ended up eating.

Research has shown that when offered either toys or candy on Halloween, kids are just as likely to choose toys. Why not offer small prizes and toys this year? Some ideas for inexpensive, popular giveaways include:

• spider rings
• vampire teeth
• Halloween stickers or pencils
• temporary tattoos
• Halloween bouncy balls
• fake slime
• noisemakers
• glow sticks
• decks of cards
• small bottles of bubbles
• crayons or glitter glue
• small cans of modeling clay

More good news: It doesn't mean giving up the sweet stuff entirely.
Candy once in awhile isn't the issue. And over-restricting kids can seriously backfire. How to help kids learn to strike a balance? If you have children who trick or treat and usually bring home a huge stash of candy, talk with them in advance about setting some limits. Some parents like to limit the number of pieces a child can keep. Others have found that keeping candy around for one night works best for them. The best part: No more negotiations over candy once it's all gone.

Spread the word
Ask other parents to give the toys as treats idea a try. Think about other ways you might spread the word. Together, we can make Halloween a little bit healthier. Visit the links below for more information.

Childhood Obesity: What families can do together
Checklist for a Safe Halloween
Keeping Kids Safe on Halloween
Keeping Kids Safe on Halloween (Spanish)