October 31 is a day that most of us look forward to every year, between playing dress-up, having fun with friends and family and enjoying yummy treats. But Halloween can also reinforce unhealthy habits that increase cancer risk, like poor diet and weight gain.
Obesity among young people has tripled over the last 30 years, and today nearly 1 in 5 children and teens are obese. Talk about spooky! It’s important to help our young ones enjoy the spirit of the holiday without the added health risks.
Check out these tips to help you and your little ones have a happy, healthy Halloween.
- Eat a healthy dinner before venturing out. Before you get the trick or treating started, sit the family down for a nutritious, filling meal. It’ll give your trick-or-treaters the fuel they need to collect their bounty and fill them up so they won’t be tempted to eat lots of candy later.
- More houses = more movement. Instead of driving the kiddos from house to house, lace up those sneakers and have everyone walk together. Getting active is an important way to reduce your risk of cancer, so embrace those extra steps!
- Have some fun (and healthy) treats on hand. Prepare some festive snacks ahead of time so your hungry trick-or-treaters won’t even want to reach for the candy. Check out this article for lots of fun ideas, from boo-nana pops to cinnamon sugar bats.
- Set a limit. Even though everyone’s excited by how much candy they collect, it’s important to set a limit for how much to eat at a time. Try setting a max of two pieces per day and stash the rest somewhere else (it’ll last a while!).
What’s your favorite happy Halloween tip? Tell us in the comments below or tweet them to @PreventCancer!
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