As I wrote in my post today, I’d love to see non-sweet treats beyond chips (not even sure if they do them anymore. My son didn’t get any last year or the year before, I don’t think). He’s got more of a sweet tooth than I do but it WOULD be nice! I remember getting popcorn from a lady dressed as a witch but my mom wouldn’t let me keep it because it was self-bagged (80s, during the time of all the fear-mongering of contaminated treats.
Found this article through Virginia and god am I glad it came up. I’m in London and today there was a headline that feature across many newspapers advising people to hand out STICKERS not SWEETS. Plus it came endorsed from medical professionals. Steam came from my ears and I felt like this read my mind.
Oof. I like the idea of non-edible "treat" options for kids with allergies or other challenges, but not when it's coming from diet culture.
Have you read the book "Sugar Rush" by Karen Throsby, by chance? She has some really interesting analysis of what she calls "the social life of sugar" in the UK.
I feel like we've entered the ultra extreme era with our eating, and I'm sure there are MANY parents out there who 1. see no benefit in allowing their kids to indulge in any Halloween candy and 2. see no harm to their kids in this decision.
I feel like normalizing is the way to go, but also really encouraging kids—depending on their ages—to feel what's right in their own bodies, to encourage them to build and listen to that trust within. The other thing that feels super important is to not treat the occasional overindulgence as a moral failing. I think we parent are often more guilty of this than the kids, but they are watching how we handle food.
Yes, eating past the point of comfort sometimes is a normal part of eating. Thanksgiving can be a great time to model matter-of-fact and self-compassionate responses to that!
I also agree it's important for kids to learn how things feel in their own bodies. So if they do end up overdoing it on candy, they get to feel and learn that in their own body. If we try to run interference to try to prevent every possibly tummy ache, we end up robbing our kids of a learning opportunity.
This is so challenging to navigate as a parent .... it feels never ending and like an impossible feat.
I have come up with some boundaries I think are working well for my 5 and 7 year olds that allow the indulgence, and then taper off after the "event". They do love candy - and I do too. There have been some tummy aches, which I agree are learning opportunities.
I think it would be different if there was really only one "candy holiday" - halloween.
Instead, now you see more and more candies everywhere.... Christmas candies, and then New Years treats, then Valentine's day and Easter treats, and in between, all the friends' birthdays, often with piñatas or candy charcuterie boards...
Even though I'm trying to avoid diet culture, and trying to maintain a neutral and accepting attitude towards all foods, there comes a limit! And I have made some mistakes here and there. As a family doctor, I see longterm consequences of eating lots of candy/sweets routinely, not feeling any caution about it. And I also understand and grapple with the fact that these are situations where maybe as kids, folks didn't have a great relationship with foods from the start....
It's definitely complicated! It sounds like you've found the sweet spot (pun intended!) that works for your family—which isn't easy in those peak birthday party years.
And your patients are so lucky to have a doctor who considers how someone's relationship with food or their body might be behind certain behaviors, etc.
Yay for treats! This is such a helpful read for anyone stressing about Halloween candy!
As I wrote in my post today, I’d love to see non-sweet treats beyond chips (not even sure if they do them anymore. My son didn’t get any last year or the year before, I don’t think). He’s got more of a sweet tooth than I do but it WOULD be nice! I remember getting popcorn from a lady dressed as a witch but my mom wouldn’t let me keep it because it was self-bagged (80s, during the time of all the fear-mongering of contaminated treats.
I remember having to throw out those homemade things in the 80s, too!
Have you ever seen the show "Freaks and Geeks"? It was brilliant, and there is a very poignant Halloween episode.
Variety is great and makes the "sorting" ritual more fun!
Found this article through Virginia and god am I glad it came up. I’m in London and today there was a headline that feature across many newspapers advising people to hand out STICKERS not SWEETS. Plus it came endorsed from medical professionals. Steam came from my ears and I felt like this read my mind.
Oof. I like the idea of non-edible "treat" options for kids with allergies or other challenges, but not when it's coming from diet culture.
Have you read the book "Sugar Rush" by Karen Throsby, by chance? She has some really interesting analysis of what she calls "the social life of sugar" in the UK.
Love the opening line!
I feel like we've entered the ultra extreme era with our eating, and I'm sure there are MANY parents out there who 1. see no benefit in allowing their kids to indulge in any Halloween candy and 2. see no harm to their kids in this decision.
I feel like normalizing is the way to go, but also really encouraging kids—depending on their ages—to feel what's right in their own bodies, to encourage them to build and listen to that trust within. The other thing that feels super important is to not treat the occasional overindulgence as a moral failing. I think we parent are often more guilty of this than the kids, but they are watching how we handle food.
Yes, eating past the point of comfort sometimes is a normal part of eating. Thanksgiving can be a great time to model matter-of-fact and self-compassionate responses to that!
I also agree it's important for kids to learn how things feel in their own bodies. So if they do end up overdoing it on candy, they get to feel and learn that in their own body. If we try to run interference to try to prevent every possibly tummy ache, we end up robbing our kids of a learning opportunity.
Thank you for this great article.
This is so challenging to navigate as a parent .... it feels never ending and like an impossible feat.
I have come up with some boundaries I think are working well for my 5 and 7 year olds that allow the indulgence, and then taper off after the "event". They do love candy - and I do too. There have been some tummy aches, which I agree are learning opportunities.
I think it would be different if there was really only one "candy holiday" - halloween.
Instead, now you see more and more candies everywhere.... Christmas candies, and then New Years treats, then Valentine's day and Easter treats, and in between, all the friends' birthdays, often with piñatas or candy charcuterie boards...
Even though I'm trying to avoid diet culture, and trying to maintain a neutral and accepting attitude towards all foods, there comes a limit! And I have made some mistakes here and there. As a family doctor, I see longterm consequences of eating lots of candy/sweets routinely, not feeling any caution about it. And I also understand and grapple with the fact that these are situations where maybe as kids, folks didn't have a great relationship with foods from the start....
It's definitely complicated! It sounds like you've found the sweet spot (pun intended!) that works for your family—which isn't easy in those peak birthday party years.
And your patients are so lucky to have a doctor who considers how someone's relationship with food or their body might be behind certain behaviors, etc.
That billboard! Wild.
I know, right?
And they literally call themselves a "Temple of Well-Being"!