FOCUS ON ATTRACTIVE, HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES: Parents can make a conscious and yearly effort to create alternative Halloween traditions that place the focus on activity, not on treats - i.e hosting your own Halloween costume or craft party, coordinating a scavenger hunt (with toys, not candy, for prizes), participating in many of the candy-free harvest carnivals offered by churches and community centers, or spinning spooky tunes in the front yard to entertain passing neighbors.

A recent Halloween study found that children between three and fourteen were just as likely to chose toys as candy when offered both. So don’t sweat offering alternatives to gooey goodies. Non-food Halloween items like pencils, stickers, and temporary tattoos are great alternatives. You can also chose healthier foods for trick or treaters like individual packages of graham crackers, mini boxes of raisins, or sugar free gum.

LIMIT THE DAMAGE: No matter how conscious you are about how you spend Halloween, it’s inevitable that your child will probably be exposed to candy. You’ll just need a plan to dispose of any excess. Some parents have success with allowing a few small pieces a day until most of the candy is gone or the kids lose interest. You can also offer to trade most of the candy for a bigger, more desirable prize, like a coveted Barbie doll or action figure. Even offering $5 for all but a few handfuls of candy is cheaper than a filling and less painful than a toothache. Dentists suggests letting children eat candy after a meal because the body will produce more saliva to help neutralize acids that can attach to tiny teeth. The worst time to eat candy is right before bed. Have kids rinse out their mouths and brush thoroughly after a candy feast, no matter what time of the day. What do dentists consider the worst candies for teeth? Anything that sticks to the teeth and stays there — things like dots, gummy bears, suckers and hard candies. The best choices for “oral clearance” (spends the less time clinging to teeth) is chocolate because it melts quickly.

PURGE THE EXCESS: Once you’ve convinced your child to give up the extra candy, get it out reach so it’s not longer a lingering temptation. Freeze some chocolate bars to melt for s’mores, brownies, or fondue on future winter days. Consider cutting up the rest to use as chocolate chips for baked goods you can make with your kids to give to senior citizen centers, military personnel, or any one special to your heart. Packaging up homemade cookies for the school crossing guard can make your child feel good about giving to others and take the focus off the candy.

USE HALLOWEEN TO TEACH SMART CHOICES, BUT DON’T DWELL: Halloween is a great time to talk to your children about the importance of making good nutritional choices, but you may not want to portray that message as one of overwhelming sacrifice. Once you’ve come up with a workable game plan that allows every one a little indulgence, explain the limits, but don’t dwell on them. You can’t raise a child and take away everything that is fun. The key is moderation and parental involvement. So offer your little spider-man or princess a slew of fun alternatives not focused solely on candy, but when they savor their hauls, know that treats in moderation are part of the thrill. Then help them learn to make good choices and figure out a useful way to share the extras.