Take these safety measures to help your little goblins have an enjoyable Halloween!

Tips for handling the Halloween treats:

• Know how much candy your child has collected and store it somewhere other than the child's room to help resist temptation
• Once your trick-or-treaters have returned with their goodies, allow them to have 1 or 2 pieces a day instead of a free-for-all of candy eating
• Consider buying back some of your child's candy; this gives them a sense of spending/saving and reduces the amount of sweets your child consumes
• As soon as your kids get home inspect all candy for opened packages, tears, home-made foods, holes or any foreign objects

Be a role model by eating Halloween candy in moderation yourself:

• To help avoid temptation, buy your candy at the last minute (you may get some deals this way too)
• Encourage your child to be aware of the amount of candy and snacks eaten
• You buy the Halloween treats, so purchase items that are better for you and your family

You also hand out festive treats that are not candy:

• Try non-food items like stickers, toys, temporary tattoos, false teeth, little bottles of bubbles and small games


• Small bags of pretzels, sugar-free gum, small boxes of raisins and popcorn


• Sugar-free candy


• Small boxes of cereal

Remember, eating healthy throughout the entire year allows you to enjoy holidays like Halloween and still maintain a healthy lifestyle. Just enjoy everything in moderation and get back on track when it is over.