Yes! I did just write that. I'm certainly not a fan of the complete and total sugar overload, but I do think there are some valid reasons to let your kids dig in to that bucket-o-candy.
Everything in moderation.
Yes, we eat sweets in our house as a treat. I'd much prefer something home-made to a bag of Oreo's. But treating yourself to some bite-sized Reese's or Hershey's in moderation isn't the end of the world. After trick-or-treat night (or Beggar’s Night, as we call it in Des Moines), set some limits on how many pieces they can eat each day or week (and don't forget to include all the stuff they get elsewhere).
Teachable moments.
So your kid eats too much candy and gets a stomach ache. Or she gets a total sugar high and then crashes. Treat it (pun intended) as an opportunity to explain WHY it happened. Going through the experience will make it more memorable than a lecture.
We all have to make choices.
No, I'm not going to let my kids eat ALL of the candy they bring in during Trick-or-Treating. In a few days or a week they will have to divide it up into a small "keep" and bigger "not-keep" piles and they'll need to decide which types of candy they like best.
Peer pressure (when it's not that big of a deal).
I want my kids to know that there is a short, but non-negotiable list of things they need to say NO to, like drinking and drugs and bullying others. I'd rather have them focus their efforts on the big deals, and not have them explain to their friends why their mom doesn't let them eat candy.
Have a little fun!
It's a right of passage and part of being a kid. I'm pretty sure that I filled up half of a pillowcase on trick-or-treat night back in the 1980's in New Jersey, and promptly ate myself into a stomach-ache later that night. But I was taught that it was a treat and not the norm, and that makes all the difference!
Real Food 4 Kids
Real Food 4 Kids offers hands-on cooking classes for kids and teens. Classes teach a variety of basic cooking skills and are available in-person in Des Moines, Iowa or can be attended virtually from anywhere.
What People are saying about us…
Voted "Best for Kid-Led Instructional Videos" three years in a row by The Spruce Eats.
Voted "Best Overall" Online Cooking Class for Kids by Simply Recipes.
“This morning EJ made an omelet crafted from left over ribeye, sautéd red onions, green peppers, tomatoes and serrano pepper (as EJ said “for some heat”) and mozzarella cheese. You’ve made such an impact on him!! Thanks for showing him your love, kindness and craft!”
— Megan W
“You have such a way with kids (patience & organization, too!); thanks for creating Real Food 4 Kids - it’s such a wonderful and unique program. It’s really helping Josie with her confidence, even beyond cooking!”
— Carolyn
“The information presented is invaluable; I learned many new things! Children have a right to know what is in the food that they are eating/being provided. I think a huge ‘eye-opener’ was listening to them try to pronounce the ingredients off the label.”
— Kristel Kautzky, School Principal
“My son really enjoyed it. He wants to be a chef and is already planning his restaurant menu :) I appreciate it so much all the work you put into making this so well organized, and amazing.”
— Carrie
“The fun way in which vegetables were presented and the experience of trying them with his peers did more for my picky eater than all of my experience as a pediatrician. After one visit from Real Food 4 Kids, my first grader is now requesting peppers or salad in his lunchbox daily.”
— Christy Sullivan, mother of 5, Pediatrician, & President of St. Augustin School Board