Trick or Treat?

Halloween is a big holiday in our house. With three kids, costume planning begins as early as the day after the holiday itself. Jack o' lanterns get made and spider webs hung as soon as October hits. But what about all that candy? Parents know eating 12 mini Snickers, 2 lollipops, 4 Reeses and an M and M everyday for the next week or so can't be good for their kids' health--it's no secret the negative effects excess sugar has on teeth, weight, blood sugar maintenance, and mood, not to mention the effects from all the preservatives, corn syrup, and food coloring. But parent's also don't want to be the bad guy--like it or not, trick or treating is a part of our culture that kids really enjoy and look forward to. With that said, I'll pass on to you our family's Halloween candy-ridding secret: The Great Pumpkin.

Over a decade ago when my youngest was a toddler and we were out at Sauvie's Island picking out pumpkins, I was looking out over the field of those bright orange squash and remembering Linus from Charlie Brown. Every Halloween, Linus would wait in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin to arise from the field, and every year, something would foil his attempt. My husband and I had been trying to decide what to do with our daughter's upcoming Halloween haul, and it dawned on me that what Halloween needs is a character--like the Easter Bunny or Santa or the Tooth Fairy. Except that what this character needs is Candy. On Halloween night, kids must leave their candy outside the door, and during the night the Great Pumpkin comes and takes the candy and leaves a lovely present in exchange. Two more kids later and over ten years of Halloweens, this system has worked great. Halloween night, we let the kids have as much as they want (you'd be surprised at how little this really is). They have fun sorting their candy and enjoying their favorites, and then, very seriously putting their candy offering on the front porch. In the morning, they run down and open the door to find a simple gift for each of them.

The real trick? Making sure you actually throw away the candy!!! It's not good for you either!

Happy Halloween, and have fun!

Dr. Martin