Halloween safety 101: How much candy is too much? The answer might surprise you

It’s the time of year when spooky decorations and cobwebs take over, pumpkins are transformed into jack-o-lanterns, kids think up their best costume ideas, and parents and teachers dread the thought of kids overloaded on sugar.

What can parents do to keep their kids safe and healthy without taking the fun — and candy — out of Halloween?

“First of all, don’t take away the candy,” said Colleen McMeen, RD, CD, one of the registered dietitians at Mary Bridge Children’s Pediatric Weight and Wellness and MultiCare’s Center for Health Equity and Wellness. “If we all ate like every day was a holiday, that’d negatively influence our health, but for Halloween or other holidays, there’s no need to count grams of sugar or number of candy bars.”

The team also recommends letting children indulge in their Halloween festivities and treats for a few days before going back to their regular snacking and meal patterns.

How much is too much?

“No need to turn your candy police sirens on,” McMeen said. “Parents get to choose what, when and where, and children should get to decide if they’re going to eat and if so, how much.” She adds that in most cases, after a few days, the kids will be over all the sugary treats on their own.

McMeen said when parents control their child’s eating habits too tightly, depending on their child’s personality, it jeopardizes the child’s ability to internalize their own food choices in healthy ways that will benefit them in the long run.

“Building eating competence in our children requires that we, as parents and caregivers, trust them to eat what they need from what we provide,” McMeen said. “When we trust our children to eat as much candy or food as they want, they are building on their own skills, gaining some autonomy and listening to their bodies.”

Easy tips for parents to follow:

• Always start out with a fulfilling meal.
• Enjoy sweet treats with a glass of milk or other protein-rich food.
• Sit down and talk with your kids about what they love most about Halloween (costumes, treats, decorations, etc.) while you eat together.
• Don’t forget to wash your hands and brush your teeth.

Halloween treats don’t have to be sugary. Other ideas include letting your children help plan what treats you’ll leave at your door. Some might love slime or Play-Doh, others might prefer stickers or glow sticks. Most importantly, just remember there’s nothing wrong with some good old candy.

This post was originally published in October 2021 and was updated in October 2023.