Preparing for the incoming candy haul

Trends such as the ‘Switch Witch’ have started making their rounds on social media over the last few years to help parents get rid of unwanted candy, whether it be leftover candy brands a kid does not like or for dietary reasons. Parents tell their kids about the ‘Switch Witch’ near the beginning of October, then on Halloween night kids will choose a selection of their favourite treats to keep, and the rest is left in a basket.

Then while the kids are sleeping, the ‘Switch Witch’ comes and takes the basket, replacing it with a gift of some kind for the child.

Abrametz said that the ‘Switch Witch’ can be a good idea, as long as the goal is to teach kids better eating habits, and not taking candy away.

“I have heard of that one and it might be a good tool for families. For example, kids who have allergies, it can be a way to allow them to participate and have treats with ingredients that they can eat swapped out so so that they could still participate. It can also be a fun idea for younger kids who may prefer the excitement of a toy over candy and who maybe aren’t protective of their candy.”

There’s a list of similar processes parents are trying to help make that candy haul a little more manageable such as ‘the Buyback Program’ or the ‘Candy Fairy’.

While these can be good initiatives to help build healthy eating habits in younger children, Abrametz cautioned against using ideas like the ‘Switch Witch’ on older kids that might be a protective over their candy hauls.

“But for older kids, they might perceive this as restriction, so it may lead them to eat more candy than they normally would in one sitting just to eat what they can before it’s gone. But really, it’s up to each family to decide kind of what’s right for their kids and their family.”

That opportunity for kids to build a mountain of candy could be smaller than past years though. According to a survey from Nextdoor Canada, 88 per cent of Canadians plan on spending less than $100 this year on Halloween, with only 9 per cent of Canadians expected to spend over $100.

Whether that mountain of candy comes this year or not, Abrametz said that if the kids clear that mountain out in one night, it won’t be the end of the world.

“One night of sweets won’t undo a lifetime of balanced eating, so think long term. The goal isn’t to limit sugar as much as possible. Focusing on balance over time rather than individual foods or events helps take the pressure off eating and supports a more positive relationship with food. So engaging in consistent healthy habits over the long term is more important to health than overindulgence at Halloween after day or two when the novelty wears off, yeah, return to a balanced routine.”

by Nick Nielsen

Preparing for the incoming candy haul

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