Halloween: Is It Really the Sugars and Dyes You Should Fear?
I’m not a nutritionist.
And I’m not a dietitian.
But one thing I do know is that what your kid eats can have a huge impact on their behavior.
It makes sense, right?
I mean, we know as adults, if we eat crap … We feel like crap!
And if we eat good, healthy, nutritious foods, we have better focus, more energy, and actually want to do things.
Same goes for your kiddo.
Managing their nutrition can be tough at the best of times though.
And with Halloween just around the corner, I know a lot of parents are going to be seriously worried.
We see it every year in my Facebook group.
The questions come flooding in:
“My child loves Halloween, but I’m dreading the way she’ll behave after eating all that candy.”
“Should I let them go trick or treating with friends? They so want to go, but I know the after effects won’t be pretty.”
“We generally try to keep my son away from sugar, but it’s so difficult around Halloween.
Should we stick to our guns and risk a meltdown because he’s angry, or let him eat candy and risk a meltdown because of all the sugar?”
It’s a tough call to make.
I mean, if you know your HSC gets over-excited or emotional after just half a Reese’s bar, what on earth are they gonna be like after the whole neighborhood’s filled their bucket or sack with enough candy to knock out an elephant!?
Well, I have two pieces of advice.
When it comes to Halloween, I would talk with them beforehand about what is and isn’t acceptable.
Lay down some ground rules about how much sugar they can have, and make a verbal contract with them.
If they get given more than that (and who are we kidding, of course they’re going to get more!) …
Then you can decide with them on a sensible plan to ‘ration’ the leftovers.
While this may not be the perfect solution, as they’re still going to be eating sugar, dyes, and artificial ingredients …
It may well be the lesser of two evils.
Because if you suddenly tell them they can’t go trick or treating, or can’t have any candy at all?
Well, that in itself could trigger a huge meltdown.
But at the same time, a DIY elimination diet could produce more problems than it solves.
You might eliminate the wrong thing …
You might not know how to monitor the diet’s effectiveness …
Or you might eliminate too much at once, and risk your child feeling vulnerable or confused.
Ultimately, you’re probably going to want to do something with regard to their nutrition …
If you’re noticing a pattern, speak with a holistic doctor to determine the best course of action.
Many of our clients have done just that, learn from their lessons, however…
Changing your child’s diet does not eliminate the meltdown cycle.
(Plus, you’re going to need the tools to help your child want to feel better and eat the foods they need to eat, especially if there are sensory challenges with these changes.)
With monitoring nutrition, it’s best to let the pros take the reins.
Just as it is when you’re examining your overall approach for parenting your HSC.
Parents come to us because we remove all the guesswork.
We often solve years worth of unsolved problems in a matter of weeks.
We’ve worked with hundreds of children, to help them overcome their meltdowns, thrive at school and succeed socially.
We can take a look at what you’re struggling with right now …
What you’ve done to try and solve the issues on your own …
And create a unique plan, tailored 100% to you and your kiddo.
If that sounds like something you’d like, use the following link to book your call with us:
⇒ Yes, I want a happy and healthy kiddo.
So look -- Use what I suggested in this email and see how it goes.
It might work great for you. If so, I’m super happy.
But if not …
Or even if it does, but you know that long-term, the only way you’ll succeed in your parenting goals is to get support …
Here’s that link once more: https://www.megghanthompsoncoaching.com/talk
For families with high school aged teens: https://www.megghanthompsoncoaching.com/teentalk
