For those of you following the Whole30 Version 5.0, today may prove a test of willpower. Halloween candy is everywhere, calling out to you from perky colored wrappers in perfectly portioned bite-sized pieces. So for those of you stocking up for trick-or-treaters, or dealing with an influx of candy in your child’s own bag o’ booty, we are here to remind you of one simple fact.
YOU CAN HAVE CANDY ANY TIME YOU WANT.
You’re a grown-up. You earn your own money. And if you wanted a Snickers, a Kit-Kat, or a bag of Peanut M&Ms, you can walk right into any grocery store, gas station or convenience mart and buy one. Halloween candy is not special. It’s not unique. It’s not homemade, or a once-a-year treat, and we’re pretty sure it doesn’t invoke fond childhood memories of sitting around the dining room table while Mom pulls things out of the oven.
Which means, Whole30’ers… you will NOT be taken out by a bag of peanut M&Ms. Not this time around. No slips, no cheats, no excuses. You’re in this to slay your Sugar Demons once and for all, and you are tougher than any Halloween candy.
So, Whole9 readers… what are you going to do with all of your children’s candy? How will you balance the tradition of Halloween with the health concerns of all that sugar?
Post your best strategy for giving your kids a happy and healthy Halloween, and win a free Whole30 Success Guide!
We can help you live the Whole9 life.
Fill out the form below to join the Whole9 Newsletter.
I don’t have kids, but I love handing out goodies to those who come to the door. This year, I’ve replaced the candy with toys, pencils, temp tattoos, etc. Not only am I keeping myself from sneaking candy, I feel good about not contributing to the likely sugar high (and crash) the kids will be dealing with.
I wrote a post about this yesterday:
http://alilomneck.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-treats.html
Great words of wisdom! If you are in the dilemma of a healthy halloween, why not have a cookout with your friends and children’s friends. The kids can dress up and you can control the meal. Also, “Following my nose” blog has some creative dishes like Creepy Creature of the Sea Soup and sweet potato bugs. Most importantly, eat before going out trick or treating then you will not be tempted by the sugar demons. Happy Halloween!
Here is a link to the blog: http://followingmynose.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-hassleback-sweet-potato-bugs.html
Thanks!!! I needed this…
I’m on day 7 of my Whole30, and was just going through a debate with myself about cheating because this is a “holiday”.
NOT going to do it. Thanks!
I happen to be working from home today, in order to sidestep the inevitable “Have some candy!” cries from my coworkers. One particularly ridiculous thing they did to promote “safety” (I work adjacent to a large factory) is to put out small buckets of candy corn amongst the coffee makers and microwaves reminding you to “BE SAFE” as you eat the horrible candies and develop diabetes. I almost went around and threw the buckets in the trash before more people showed up to work, but I figured people have to make their own decisions in life. Wouldn’t you know it – I went into the break area later that morning for some hot water and … the buckets were empty. They didn’t even make it 3 hours.
We let them have a little the night-of, then it just disappears. Not overnight, but really, really soon. We also have a meal ritual beforehand and hot cider afterward, so we don’t go at it for hours and hours.
On Halloween night, the kids (we have 5) pick out 5-10 pieces of candy to keep, and put the rest of their candy in a big pile. We ring a special bell before the kids go to bed and that night the “Switch Witch” comes and exchanges it for a cool group gift. This year it’s a Tether ball set. It’s not normally that big of a gift, but we’ve been wanting a Tether ball set for awhile…
So far I’ve managed to resist my two boys (ages 3 and 1) literally trying to shove candy in my mouth, and not understanding why mommy doesn’t want any of their candy. After one week of my whole30; I don’t even want the sugar. Not really, at least! For my kids, since we’ve already been to a couple parties where candy was given out, I’m limiting it to one or two pieces in between meals, and only if the previous meal was eaten. We’ve had lots of melt downs, but so far so good, for all of us! I’m feeling great already, and can’t wait to see how great I feel at the end of this!
Though I do not have children my Halloween will involve being stuffed at a Brazillian Rodizio before going to a halloween party tonight so that I am too full off of Meats that I could not possibly have anything else.
I do not like this day! My boys are in K and 2nd grade… Past years I’ve traded their candy for toys but thats never sat well with me. This year I simply explained that I feel all the candy is crap they deserve better than that… I did say that if they agree to handover all their candy we will all go bowling tomorrow night and bring along any friends who want to do the same. We have the neighbor-kid onboard!! I count this as a win! I’m eager to hear how others handle this Tricky “holiday”
Our box is offering a Halloween Candy buy back for all of our community. We are giving an incentive of $2.00/lb of candy and a prize for the most candy returned. As well as a free class.
Look around your local neighborhood, surely a dental office or crossfit box will have a similar program. Happy returning candy season!
Right now, with our one child only 11 months, it’s easy enough – we’re just not going trick-or-treating. If we get any kiddos at our door, they’re getting raisins (yeah, we’re *that* house. I’m over it.). In a few years though…we’ll see. I love the “snitch witch”! I’m hoping that if he never has any sugar/candy, he won’t get what the fuss is about and willingly give up his haul (because I won’t make him sit at home while his friends roam the ‘hood). Is that too idealistic? Guess I’ll find out.
I am on Day 9 and I am not being swoo’d by Halloween Candy! As a college student, the pull isn’t as bad because of no kids, but at my job my boss has been passing the candy like crazy! I keep having to explain why I don’t want any (as I usually don’t pass up chocolate!) and it is getting so old. I have been using your paleo elevator speech though! :) I finally feel like I have a grip on my sugar demons, and I finally feel good and happy in my decision to say no. You guys weren’t lying, this is life-changing! THANK YOU!
@Shanti, fantastic idea! I’m stealing that, if you don’t mind. We just got an Earth Fare store near us and we’re going to turn in our candy for their goody bag (probably not Whole30-approved, but a much better alternative for the kids). http://ceoblog.earthfare.com/2011/10/30/trick-or-trade-in/
A friend recently introduced me to a fantastic recipe blog, called Elena’s Pantry. I love to bake, but have missed it since going paleo, so seeing this website was like hitting the jackpot! I spent the weekend in the kitchen, making tons of goodies using nuts, dried fruit, coconut oil, flax meal, nut butters, dark chocolate and coconut flour, with some stevia here and there. This stuff all came out amazing!! I was so pleased, and I promise you, the peppermint patties and almond butter cups are far better than the much less healthy store- bought versions. With all of these goodies, I will set up a “store” and my kids will be using their trick-or-treat candy as money to “buy” the homemade treats. Then, we are going to put together a package for Operation Gratitude and include the remaining trick-or-treat candy and send it off to deployed service members who will be missing out on the holiday altogether. The kids are really thrilled about doing this! They’re anxious to gets tons of candy so that they can “buy” homemade treats with it and send the rest off to our troops along with some homemade cards :)
So far, we’ve got Shanti and Nicole K as Whole30 Success Guide winners! We love the idea of a compromise – they still get to enjoy the season and the ritual of trick-or-treating, but they enjoy the “spoils” of a different kind of fun activity. Very creative – we love it!
Thanks to all who contributed – we think there are some great ideas here, and some fantastic ways to enjoy the season in a healthy, happy fashion.
Melissa
I work at a school and you can imagine how crazy this day was! I told the parents I would take care of the treats in the room. We had raisins, carrot sticks, orange slices, and apples for snacks. The parents thought I was crazy! I had the last laugh as the kiddos LOVED the healthy snacks and ate ALL of it! I even had some parents come up and apologize for badmouthing my choices. It just goes to prove that kids do know how to eat healthy foods if they are given a chance.
As for what to do with all of the candy that is brought home on Halloween. How about taking it to the food bank or the local shelter where these kinds of treats are not available frequently.
Not having kids of my own, and this being my first Paleo Halloween this idea has not been tested. I’m just speaking from my experience as a teacher and what “things” seemed to create excitement in my students. As for alternatives to the sugar saturated day, I would provide an equally tantalizing option the weekend before Halloween to allow them costume time and something to look forward to. They can invite friends and we would play various “games”: ie. bob for apples, break a pinata filled with non-edible treats, make a craft, have a scavenger hunt (around neighborhood to get them costume exposure if desired), etc. In terms of food, I would play into the fall/Halloween theme offering: guts (spaghetti squash and tomato sauce), edible eye balls (hard boiled eggs, black olives), spiders (fudge babies), there are a variety of easily adaptable recipes on familyfun.go.com under Halloween treats. For the older kids, I would try offering a “reward” for their suggestions of alternatives and then follow their advice.
Hope this helps store some ideas for next year!
My kids are all grown up but when they were little (I was the hippie freak back then that didn’t let my kids have sugar or “real” milk…nice that times are changing and it’s getting easier for families choosing healthy lifestyles) I allowed them to select 10 pieces of candy from their loot bag and then they traded the rest for cold hard cash…the next day they could choose where they wanted to go to spend it. It was a nice compromise where they felt like they were still getting to partake in the festivities but not getting overloaded with crap…most of the time I’d find the candy stuck in a drawer or backpack…uneaten!
This was my first year as an empty-nester (my daughter and I always passed out Halloween treats to the neighborhood kids) and I decided not to participate in the neighborhood trick or treating…I know, I know…lame. But for my immediate neighbors/friends with little ones I made a pumpkin shaped chocolate covered popcorn plate with nuts and raisins mixed in…I took it over before they headed out trick or treating…they all loved it!
This stuff doesn’t even tempt me. If I indulged I would be sick as a dog.
My husband and I took our kids trick or treating with their friends/family. When we got home, they dumped out all their candy and we gave them a choice-do you want to eat these or would you like to trade all your candy for money so that you can purchase or save up for something to buy at the toy store? They chose the money!! My kids are 5 and 7 and are committed to eating well, in other words, Paleo!
Halloween candy is not the problem.
Husband rich, dark, chocolate birthday cake is another story. It was made, glazing put on and eaten by all EXCEPT me!! (not even a crumb) and I love chocolate. Now I think that is and accomplishment.
Halloween is not the problem.
My husbands birthday cake is another story. Nice rich deep, dark chocolate with chocolate glaze.
Everyone had a piece EXCEPT for me. (not even a crumb) Now that is an accomplishment!
I have 4 year old twins and a 6 year old. They love trick or treating and get a lot of candy. The night of, they get one piece and then they trade it in to the Great Pumpkin who brings them 2 books each. My children were thrilled to get their books. I wanted to bring the candy to work and my husband insisted on throwing it in the garbage.
Our local dentist has a candy buy back program where every pound of candy given gets the child $5 in chamber of commerce dollars (which can be used in any business that is associated with the chamber). We’ve done this every year, let the kids have a few pieces and donate the rest