How to ration your kids candy

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We have some very important tips for parents tonight: We’re talking about how to ration your kid’s Hallowe’en candy. Kids go a bit crazy on Hallowe’en it’s one of the few times where they have to earn their candy so they feel a sense of ownership over it. To avoid a power struggle over how much they can eat, you’d better create a plan.

If Jimmy Kimmel’s Youtube challenge prank has taught us anything, it’s that kids love their Hallowe’en candy.

“To avoid all of that, it’s best to set the expectation up well in advance.” Kimberley Zonneveld from Brock University studies children’s food choices and says creating a game plan for how your kids will be allowed to eat their Hallowe’en haul will help avoid major meltdowns. She suggests sitting down for a conversation at least a few hours before the fun starts. “I wouldn’t do it right before you plan to go out trick or treating because they’re probably so excited that they’re not even really listening to what you’re saying.”

Parents should be clear on when their kids will have access to treats and how many they can have at each sitting.

Zonneveld says any negotiation should happen before trick-or-treating, not every night at candy time. Kids can control what they eat but not how much. Even on Hallowe’en night. “Nothing crazy because you want to kind of establish a routine and pattern of making healthy food choices.”

While a bit of indulgence is okay, Zonneveld says it shouldn’t be a free for all.