Kids need to explore candy just like any other food. And just like that vegetable or fruit your child does not like there will be candies your kids don’t like either. I promise! But the only way they are going to learn what the like (or don’t like) is by having access to candy and allowing them to explore it themselves.

Halloween is one time of year that the topic of candy comes up the most. How to handle it? Which are the healthiest? We as a society have become so scared and anxious around candy (aka sugar) that we as adult don’t know how to eat it, therefore have no idea how to approach it with our kids.

I for one have a kiddo that enjoys candy, especially chocolate. He asks for it often and so we keep it available in the house. We have a candy container we keep in the pantry that the kids can pick from. Some days they have a piece and some days we don’t. I often pack a piece with his lunch for school and some nights he has candy with his dinner. I for one love chocolate and often have some after my lunch. Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate PB cups are hands down my favorite, basically anything chocolate + PB is my love language 🙂 So am I surprised that my kids like it too? Nope! Serving it with a meal teaches kids that candy is just another food. Problems being when candy is scarce and kids don’t learn how to enjoy it. Friendly reminder that candy isn’t going anywhere and it’s delicious so lets make it just another food in our pantry!

Here are my Top 5 Tips for Managing Candy in the Home

1. Have candy available all year long!
2. Keep a bowl or container with candy in the pantry.
3. Let candy be an option with a meal or a snack.
4. Decide when it’s offered
5. If you have a kiddo who loves candy let them have more access more often. This may include offering larger portions as a snack on occasion.

How to Approach Halloween Candy

1. Offer a filling dinner or snack before going out trick-or-treating. Include foods that your kids enjoy and are nourishing.
2. Go trick-or-treating!
3. Let your kids have as much candy as they want that day.
4. Avoid comments! Keep this experience as neutral as possible.
5. Let kids explore and learn what candies they like and don’t like.
6. Remember Halloween is all about the happy memories, not the nutrition. And is just one day a year 🙂
7. In the days that follow halloween let them pick out 1-2 pieces of candy to enjoy with a meal or snack.
8. SEE ABOVE (keep it available all year long!)

Halloween Candy Activities

1. Halloween Candy Sort
   • By color
   • By shape
   • By type
   • chocolate versus non-chocolate
   • favorite to least favorite
   • biggest to smallest
2. Candy Taste Test
   • Let kids take a bite and describe the flavors they taste and textures they feel in their mouth
   • Have them rate the candy from favorite to least favorite
3. Bake with candy!
   • Use candy in baking or cooking
   • Have kids come up with fun recipes using candy or their halloween candy
   • Mix it into trail mix or other snack mix

Recipes using Halloween Candy

Popped Sorghum Pumpkin Krispy Treats by Lauren Sharifi Nutrition

Love this recipe, which can be easily made with Rice Krispy’s instead of popped sorghum. Top with a mini Reece’s cup or any chocolate you have leftover!

Easy Halloween Brownie Bars  by Little Eats and Things

Easy Halloween Peanut Candy Corn Bark by Little Eats and Things

Yum! Love both of these recipes. Really easy to make with kids and a great way to use up leftover candy corn or just about any candy.

Butterscotch Rice Crispy Bars by Fully Mediterranean

Insert any chocolate here and yum!

Butterfinger Drink by Amy Gorin 

Make a drink with Butterfinger candy?! Who would have thought, but I love it. Just omit the shnapps for the kiddos 😉