Welcome to the candy game plan, and here’s how to make yours.

All Hallows Eve is a truly momentous day in the year of a young child. Carving jack-o-lanterns, the crunch of fallen leaves, dressing in costume, staying up a bit past bedtime to walk around the neighborhood, hot apple cider, and bringing home a bag of candy – what’s not to love?

Well, from the parents’ perspective, what’s not to love is the potential for cavities, health impacts from corn syrup and artificial dyes, over-sugared preschoolers, and fielding one too many requests for a treat from the candy bag, to name a few. 

How can a parent delight in this childhood experience alongside their children without compromising on their own level of comfort with sugar exposure and indulgence? 

Here are a few ideas to spark a conversation within your household about the Halloween candy game plan.

Limit the candy intake

Some families limit the number of homes they visit while trick-or-treating to proactively deal with the candy influx. One method might be visiting only the homes on your street or sticking to a time limit before returning home. 

One way to get the kids on board would be to trick-or-treat for a short time and invite a few families back to your home for hot apple cider and playtime before wrapping up the evening. It’s always easier to set limits alongside friends. 

Indulge, then monitor 

Since Halloween is the vigil of the Solemnity of All Saints, some families like to let the children feast on candy that evening and the following day. However, once the festivities are over, there is a limit on candy consumption. 

One mother of three explained, “We let them have a few pieces but put the rest away when we get home, and honestly, they don’t see it again. I have a basket high in a cabinet where all the candy that comes into the house goes. Candy is highly regulated, and they must do something to earn it or have a piece instead of a different treat after dinner. They have never known differently, so they don’t expect to be able to eat all the Halloween candy they get in their baskets.” 

Setting expectations and communicating them to your children beforehand seems to be the name of the game.

The first few years of trick-or-treating in our household, we did not set or communicate expectations surrounding Halloween candy to our children. Consequently, I fielded multiple candy-related questions each day until I was ready to throw it all away. 

Having learned my lesson the hard way, my children now know that they can enjoy their candy freely on All Hallows Eve and the Solemnity of All Saints. After that, they are allowed one piece a day (after their chores and duties are complete) until St. Philip’s Fast begins for Eastern-Rite Catholics in preparation for Christmas. 

Tie it in liturgically 

Another way to tie candy consumption into the liturgical calendar is to return to the origins of trick-or-treating and the practice of exchanging prayers for the deceased for treats. 

Here’s how it works. Place a jar with the names of deceased family members and friends written on strips of paper and keep it in a place of prominence (like the family altar or dining room table) during November. Have the communal candy bowl next to it. 

Before eating a piece of candy, a person selects a slip of paper and prays for that soul before enjoying their treat. This is a powerful way to remember to pray for the souls in purgatory each November, while also teaching children about the origins of trick-or-treating. 

St. Gertrude’s prayer for the souls in purgatory would be great to print out and place next to the candy. 

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

For younger children, the Eternal Rest prayer may be easier to learn and remember. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. This is also a powerful prayer to add at the end of grace before meals during November. 

Another creative way to enjoy Halloween candy and tie it into the liturgical year is to help children make a Christmas calendar. They can select their twelve favorite pieces of candy and tuck them away to enjoy each day of Christmas, from the birth of Christ through the Epiphany. How excited they will be to pull out their very own calendar filled with highly anticipated sweet treats! 

Candy trade-in

If your family hopes to avoid candy consumption altogether, consider having a candy trade-in time on Halloween night. Parents might give their child a coupon for an outing to a fun museum or ice cream shop, or perhaps they can receive a favorite toy or some trinkets from the dollar store in exchange for their bag of candy. 

Some organizations accept candy donations, so your child can also take part in a gesture of kindness as they share their Halloween candy. Treats for Troops is a great way to give back to service members and lighten your candy load.

All in for candy

As one mom expressed to me when I asked her Halloween candy game plan, some families simply enjoy the candy! She said, “It’s nice to give them a chance to be kids and enjoy their candy without too much monitoring from me. They don’t eat a ton of sugar regularly, and it’s fun to watch their excitement. Eventually, they get tired of it, so the entire bag is never finished. And I certainly enjoy helping myself to their candy bag now and then.” 

She is not alone, enjoying a Reese’s Cup from the candy bag after the kids head to bed is certainly a part of my All Hallows Eve routine! As you prepare for a night of trick-or-treating, make sure to set your children up for success by sharing your family’s candy game plan with them! 

Does your family have a unique way of enjoying Halloween candy? Let us know in the comments!