Halloween can be tough for overweight kids and families of diabetics — and in Brooklyn and nationwide, there's been a huge increase in diabetes and obesity among youngsters. But you can't avoid Halloween candy. It's everywhere — in the stores, at school, at friends' homes, in after-school venues. And on Halloween day, it's everywhere. So, what to do?
1. Find Out What the Experts Recommend
The American Diabetes Association recommends focusing on "other aspects of the holiday", making sure your children's friends' families are aware of his or her limitations -- and knowing what's in what you're eating (or what your child is eating). See below for the carb counts on popular candy products.2. Do Something Other than Trick or Treat on Halloween
There's so much going on in Brooklyn at Halloween! The family can join in the fun at Prospect Park's haunted walk, or dress up the family dog for a dog costume parade. Adults can indulge in strange goings-on in Coney Island. Just forget the fattening, high carb, bad-for-your-waistline candy, and go have some other kind of fun. Check out what's happening for Halloween in Brooklyn.3. Trick or Treat with Non-Candy Items
If trick or treat you must, then lose the candy! Use something else instead. Substitute cute stickers, small toys, small apples, funny straws, even coins.4. Focus on Different Foods, Like Witches Tongues or Ghoul Eyeball Soup
Have some food games, but make them healthful: dunk for apples instead of gorging on chocolate! Or, cook up a storm, but make the recipe "ghouls eyeball soup." Yum!5. Find A Non-Food Way to Celebrate
Halloween isn't really about the candy. It's about the thrills and chills! So, make a Haunted House, or decorate your apartment. Carve a pumpkin. Invite some friends over and watch a scary movie.6. Eat a Good Meal Before Halloween Trick or Treating Begins
This idea is as basic as it gets. Fill up on nutritious food first! It's easy in the rush of Halloween to forget to prepare, or have the kids eat, a decent meal. If they're hungry, the candy will look all that much more enticing. Think about serving something really special and delicious, too.7. Don't Keep Halloween Candy Around the House - Before or After Halloween
You have to walk the walk, not just talk the talk! Just by removing the candy so it's just not there when that impulsive moment strikes, you'll be doing your loved one a favor.8. Know the Candy Carb Counts
According to the American Diabetes Association, there's a big range in the carb content of various candy. Here are the top 20:Candy Carb Counts:
- Candy Carb Counts
- 3 Musketeers Fun Size bar (16 g): 12 g carbs
- Air Heads Mini bar: 11 g carbs
- Baby Ruth Fun Size bar: 12 g carbs
- Brach's Candy Corn 22 pieces (40 g): 36 g carbs
- Butterfinger Fun Size bar (21 g): 15 g carbs
- Junior Mints 1 small box: 11 g carbs
- Kit Kat 3 2-piece bars: 28 g carbs
- M&M (peanuts) Mini pack: 13 g carbs
- M&M (plain) Mini pack: 15 g carbs
- Milky Way Fun Size bar: 12 g carbs
- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups 1 package (2 cups): 29 g carbs
- Skittles Mini pack: 18 g carbs
- Snickers Fun Size bar: 12 g carbs
- Sour Patch Kids 1 package (17 g): 16 g carbs
- Starburst 4 pieces: 16 g carbs
- Swedish Fish 1 package (17 g): 16 g carbs
- Sweet Tarts (small, hard) 5 pack of 3 candies: 13 g carbs
- Twix Fun Size piece: 10 g carbs
- Twizzlers 1 Twizzler (10 g): 8 g carbs
- York Peppermint Patties (13.6 g) 1 piece: 11 g carbs
