Deal With the Candy Witch

Do you dread the candy holidays? They start in February with Valentine’s Day and continue year-round with the biggest candy fest happening on Halloween. What is a mother to do?
The good news is that kids usually forget about the candy after a few weeks. Sometimes letting them go nuts for a day or two gets it out of their systems. Here are a few suggestions to help you deal with the onslaught and avoid turning into a candy witch:

Deal With the Candy Witch
1. Buy a limited quantity
2. Make young children carry their own bag.
3. Sort the candy.
a. Set a limit for each day.
b. Move to the freezer.
c. Throw it away.
4. Plan ahead.


• Buy a limited quantity of the treats so you and your family won’t be tempted to eat leftovers.
• Make young children carry their own plastic pumpkin or bag. When they start saying it is too heavy, it is time to go home.
• Sort the candy. Limit the ones that are high in saturated or trans fats.
a. Set a limit on how much they can have in a day.
b. Set a time limit when the candy moves to the freezer.
c. Set a time limit when the candy will get thrown away.

• Plan ahead. Knowing the candy is coming, start to avoid fast food and cut down on fat and refined flours. This teaches balance. Get out your crock pot or slow cooker and make more meals with lots of vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains. Serve more fresh fruit snacks.