Have a Healthy Halloween

If a Halloween is a kid's dream, then it's a dentist's nightmare. Dentists who spend the year warning kids about the perils of candy consumption no doubt each October, knowing full well their trustworthy advice will soon be forgotten as kids dive into their Halloween loot.

And dentists aren't the only ones who feel that way. Parents who exercise due diligence with their kids and dental care often see those efforts go down the drain when Halloween arrives. But there is a way to ensure kids snack healthy this Halloween. Consider the following tips, courtesy of the Michigan Dental Association.

• Serve a good meal before kids trick or treat. Serving a balanced meal before the party starts will keep kids from filling up on candy before they get home.
• Practice restraint. Kids learn much of their behavior from dear old Mom and Dad. If Mom and Dad don't practice restraint when it comes to Halloween candy, kids likely won't either. Set a good example and monitor your own candy consumption this Halloween.
• Change the menu. Many households still include dessert as part of their daily dinner ritual. For those that do, instead of ice cream or cake at dessert, offer Halloween candy instead. This can be a good way for parents to monitor and control kids' candy intake, and kids will be happy that they're getting to eat their favorite Halloween candy.
• Keep kids brushing and flossing. Whatever time of day kids enjoy their Halloween candy, be sure they brush and floss after consumption.
• Mix in healthy snacks along with Halloween candy. In the weeks following Halloween, kids shouldn't just load up on snacks like candy. Instead, mix in healthier snacks like vegetables and yogurt. And when kids are eating candy, give them a glass of milk to go with it. Milk is not only healthy, but gives kids something to dunk their candy into.