My children have a trunk full of dress-up clothes. Costumes pirate, witch, fireman, princess Belle, Princess Ariel, Princess Aurora, and two unnamed princesses are carried in turn by Laura and Benjamin. They invent stories, dancing and laughs. But we do not eat candy. The sweets are not the main reason to have fun. Even on Halloween. More on Halloween, I should say, given the tenfold pleasure to go to daycare in the skin of hacker Maboule and Princess Laura-do-not-yet-knows-where.
However, Halloween remains the party sweets. I recently read the site consumer affairs that Americans spend on average $ 1 billion on candy each year. I do not know the numbers for Quebec or Canada, but to see the displays at the pharmacy, grocery stores and supermarkets, I assume that spending per person is significant here as well. That dollar figure. I dare not imagine what it would be if we totaled the amount of lollipops, gum, chocolates, licorice jelly beans and other kilograms of sugar. What am I saying? Tonnes of sugar!
That said, the day before Halloween, I do not spoil the party for children with nutritional considerations. I hand out candy to children passing by, and mine eat plenty. They eat a limited amount, but only in opposition to “unlimited.” I impose a stop before they get sick, that’s all.
The next day, they can still eat more candy than usual. For dessert or a snack to top. Not replace a meal. After 2 days of glucose in the carpet, the candies are stored. I do not “cache” not put them away. Laura and Benjamin well know in which box and how the cabinet is provided. Since it is not in sight, they think less and require less often. About 2 times a month at most 1 time per week, I give them candy. Thus, a few days before Halloween, there is candy last year!
After the quantity and quality.
What quality? The candy is candy. Translation: I think we need to see what treats they are: occasional treats. I’m not looking for candy certified organic, no artificial colors, sweetened with real fruit juice or fortified with fiber (I’m sure they will eventually be). The nutritional value of foods is important when these foods are part of the regular menu. What foods like candy than have no nutritional value, I do not care. They count for so little food in my children that their nutritional value – from zero to almost zero – is negligible anyway.
I look forward to “trick or treat” with my children. Eager to see their excitement, eager to mate with them all the superheroes, monsters and princesses of the neighborhood. And if you drag a single candy in the bag from Laura and Benjamin, I do not find you cheap. On the contrary, I understand that, like many parents, you also discard surplus each year.
