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6 Tricks to Keep Halloween Treats Healthful

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  • Limit the trick or treating route to a two or three block radius. That way the treats will most likely come from neighbors and friends, and the moderate amount of treats will be manageable.

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    Limit the trick or treating route to a two or three block radius. That way the treats will most likely come from neighbors and friends, and the moderate amount of treats will be manageable.

  • Emphasizing environment helps motivate healthy choices

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    Serve a healthy dinner before taking kids out to trick or treat on Halloween evening. Making sure they have full bellies will reduce the amount of candy they snack on along the way and will ensure they have energy to get them through the night’s festivities.

  • Divvy candy into 100-calorie portions and limit kids candy intake to just that amount per day. At 60 to 100 calories each, remind parents that even fun-sized candy bars can add up to weight gain over the course of a few weeks.

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    Divvy candy into 100-calorie portions and limit kids candy intake to just that amount per day. At 60 to 100 calories each, remind parents that even fun-sized candy bars can add up to weight gain over the course of a few weeks.

  • Give out healthier treats, such as mini pretzel bags, organic lollipops, bubble gum and mini granola bars.

    Healthy Treats_1013 Slideshow

    Give out healthier treats, such as mini pretzel bags, organic lollipops, bubble gum and mini granola bars.

  • Consider providing nonfood treats such as fake fangs, glow sticks, costume jewelry, crayons or small toys and pocket games.

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    Consider providing nonfood treats such as fake fangs, glow sticks, costume jewelry, crayons or small toys and pocket games.

  • Suggest children pick out their favorite candy and save the rest to make a gingerbread house during the December holiday season.

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    Suggest children pick out their favorite candy and save the rest to make a gingerbread house during the December holiday season.

Obesity is a major health problem in the United States, with the proportion of obese children aged 6 to 11 years increasing from 7% to 18% between 1980 and 2010. Similarly, the percentage of obese adolescents aged 12–19 years has increased from 5% to 18% over the same period.

As the nation gears up to splurge – 4% of all candy consumed each year occurs on Halloween – teach patients these six healthy tricks for managing Halloween treats.

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