Halloween is just around the corner. Children are excited because they can go around the neighborhood and nearby stores to trick-or-treat; while parents are hiding their misgivings because candies are often linked to weight problems, diabetes, and tooth decay.

So what should the parents do to prevent those kiddie teeth from aching due to candy binge?

1.    Divert the kids’ attention from trick-or-treating by taking them to a party.
2.В В В  Feed those small sugar monsters with hamburgers or sausages before you allow them to eat any trick-or-treat candies. Protein and fat slow down sugar absorption.
3.    Pick out the best candies. Check the content of each kid’s bag. Candies containing hydrogenated oil, corn syrup, artificial colorings, and other questionable ingredients are unhealthy. Choose candies made with nuts, cereals, seeds, preserved fruits, and dark chocolates.
4.    Be prepared for the worst. Buy several bags of high-quality candies and hide them from the kids. If all candies did not pass your quality control, replace these with your healthy ones so that the kids wouldn’t be disappointed.

Some researches show, behavioral changes in children are not caused by the effects of sugar but rather the lack of sugar. When levels of blood sugar get too high, a hormone called insulin is released to flush out sugar from the blood. When sugar levels drop suddenly, the body will feel sluggish and will crave for sugar. Eating candies could be a nice treat when done in moderation.