Halloween is a scary time for more reasons than most people think.
No longer can folks just worry about being scared out of their wits from pranksters of all ages. Today, health-conscious parents are forced to put their creative minds to work or succumb to peer pressure of allowing their kids to indulge in a bucket full of treats that include every type of candy imaginable.
Even with concerns swirling about obesity among children, experts say one night of treats won't necessarily do a lot of damage as far as weight gain goes.
Dental woes
But a bag full of candy could have parents singing the blues after their kid's next dental appointment. That happened to me after my kids had a few cavities filled. Ever since, we follow their pediatric dentist's advice and avoid sticky, gummy or hard candies that require intense chewing.
Ironically, those candies tend to be the least expensive, but can result in hundreds of dollars in dental bills. If your pediatric dentist hasn't suggested which candies to avoid, now's the perfect time to ask.
Not that you can control what kids bring home after their candy expedition, but at least you can separate the "good" from the "bad." Besides, kids usually get so much candy, it would be difficult for some of them to know if a few pieces were missing from their loot. One dietitian mom told me she simply tosses a few pieces of candy every day after Halloween, and her kids never know it.
Avoid allergens
Parents must pull out their own tricks to protect kids' health, especially those whose children have food allergies. The most common food allergens are peanuts, tree nuts, milk and egg, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. The organization warns parents to be leery of the "fun-sized" packaging of candies because the list of ingredients is often missing from the labels and sometimes the ingredients are different from the regular-sized versions.
Kids with food allergies should be taught to politely not accept homemade treats like cookies or cupcakes for obvious reasons.
So whether your little ones are knocking on neighbors' doors or attending a church fall festival this Halloween, keep the outing a safe and healthy one.
Contact HealthScene editor Shanderia K. Posey at (601) 961-7264 or e-mail her at sposey@jackson.gannett.com.
