Halloween approaching....Help!

[Claire]

Ok, I know almost all of the regulars avoid artificial ingredients. So I am looking for creative ideas for Halloween. What is a reasonable'cheat'? What do you all plan to do?

 

Claire

[NancyE]

Claire,

 

That's a tough one. My guys are younger than your son, so they haven't really rebelled at the food restrictions that much yet. What we do at Halloween is let them trick or treat all they want, then they pick out maybe 10 pieces of candy they really want - I get rid of all the really bad colored and pure sugar stuff right away - so it's mostly chocolate bars they keep. They can have one a day. Still not great, but better than all the food coloring, and I feel I have to let them have something once in a while. Then I pay them a nickel or dime for each piece of candy they have to give up, which they really seem to like. It's not more than a few dollars each usually, and they feel like they're getting something. Honestly, they seem to forget about the candy within a day or two anyway.

 

It sounds like your guy has more definite and immediate reactions to candy than mine do, so it is very hard. Would he like trading some for money or other things that interest him, as a way to soften the blow? I know it's very hard to live through the after-effects for awhile, but I don't know how to totally avoid it when they have such strong feelings about it. On the one hand, you want to protect him from the bad effects you know it has on him, and on the other hand you don't want to start alienating him. Teenage years are hard - I'm not in any hurry to experience them!

I did just read something that reminded me that moodiness and outbursts are normal for all teens. Unfortunately, just something we're going to have to struggle through. Hmm, I think I was a pretty moody teen at times too.

 

Anyway, I think your ideas for substituting "healthier" candy as much as possible is a good one, and I'm sorry I don't have any better ideas for you. I guess if you can reach some compromise where he's still feeling he's getting something he wants (maybe even more than candy) might help you both feel better about it.

 

Good luck.

 

Nancy

[Andy]

My five year old can not eat any type of candy because of his diet restrictions, so we had a family discussion where all the candy that he and his 3 year old brother collect will be bought by my wife and I with money. Small candies a penny, medium size candies a nickle, large candies a dime, whole bar candies a quarter, a bag of candies fifty cents and the unexpected will be a dollar. They seemed hesistant at first then we carried the discussion over to what toys they could buy and how many if they collect...etc. It might end up costing me more then a few bucks but it's more then worth the alternative. As for older kids, I dunno what to say. My father used to tell me and my brothers that halloween was an evil holiday and trick and treating was begging. It worked for him but that was a different time, a different era.

[Gina]

Hi Everyone,

 

I also "Buy Back" candy from my kids and than we usually go to Toys R Us and they can get what ever they want with thier money. I dont have any teenagers but I think they would also like the cash... Maybe not the Toys R Us part but I bet a trip to the local Mall might be good.

 

I remember my teen years and what I really wanted was to make my own decissions. I am sure your son is aware of what the candy does to him and dosen't want that either. Maybe it needs to be his decision. Throw the ball back in his court and just remind him what the candy does to him. (If there is allergies involved that can hurt him than you should step in) You might be amazed at his decision if he feels its "His" and not anyone elses. Especially when there is $$ involved.

 

Also, I remember a post here by some of the parents that use the Fiengold Diet and in one of thier post they talked about an online candy store that I believe is all OK for the Fiengold diet plan. I believe the name was Squirrels Nest Candy. You might want to go online and see if any of it is good for yoru son. Than maybe show your son the website and let him pick out what he would like to trade the "bad candy" in for. Again it would be his decision if he picked it out himself. Than just make sure its at your house by halloween so the trade off can take place immediatly.

 

I will probably do a bit of both this year. Buy Back and also Trade Off. Nobody needs to much Junk Feed even if it is not so bad for you.

 

Good Luck

Gina

[LuluGirl]

I wouldn't consider this a "healthy" alternative but it's one I bet will work for my kids. We pass a Burger King on the way home from school which they want to stop at everyday (the answer is always the same!). However, I bet if we stopped before they went trick or treating and let them get the whole shebang, they would be very full children! Hard to gorge yourselves on candy when you're already stuffed! Just a thought!

 

Lulu

[Claire]

Thanks a million everyone...

 

This is what I found at the www.squirrels-nest.com ssite about the history of the site--get out your handkerchiefs....

 

Claire

 

The History Of The Kemble Family

"In 1977, when my oldest son, Jason was 2 ½, I learned he was sensitive to artificial colors and flavors. These affected the way he felt about himself and the way he treated others.

 

That year for Christmas we received a book by Dr. Benjamin Feingold. Dr. Feingold’s research shows that many people have sensitivities to artificial flavors, fragrances, colors, and some preservatives. It helped to know my son was not unique with this situation. Parent’s whose children have been diagnosed with ADHD, ADD, autism, learning disabilities, and allergies were looking for a natural alternative to medication. The Feingold® program seems to be the answer.

 

To provide Jason with candy, I learned the art of candy making from Mammy, my Pennsylvania Dutch mother-in-law. Soon I learned from sharing these sweets with others that people preferred the taste of real butter and pure vanilla. In 1980, I made this candy available through The Squirrel’s Nest.

...

In 1990, I decided to offer my products by mail to Feingold members. The same month, Jason was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. Jason felt very strongly about Feingold and the importance of a natural diet. He didn’t want his illness to change my decision.

 

Jason died one month before his 16th birthday in 1991. By helping thousands of children, I realized that it was helping me to fill some of the huge void left in my life by his passing. When we go through something as devastating as the loss of a child we can’t possibly imagine that anything good could ever result from it. But as time heals God puts opportunities in front of us that give us the chance to help others by using the knowledge we have gained or just the compassion to understand.

 

Like any other experience in life, most people wouldn’t or couldn’t understand unless they have been there.

 

For me, the motivation to keep going continues, knowing that families like yours are counting on me...."

 

-----------------------

[Ronnas]

Hi Claire,

 

A topic dear to my heart as Halloween approaches. So last year what I did is...prior to Halloween I took my kids to Toys R Us and told them within reason to pick something they REALLY liked...not to hard in Toys R Us...I made a deal with them...if you give me all of your Halloween candy THEN you can have the toy you want. It worked GREAT! Halloween night they gave me their Halloween candy and in the morning "under the pumpkin" was the much wanted toy. Then I sent ALL of the candy to work with my husband...

 

This is just something that worked for us and I plan on doing it this year.

 

Ronna

[Guest Jeff]

My girls are 12 and 10. We let them each keep about 20 pieces of their candy, then we buy the rest from them. The girls grumble and complain a little, but 20 pieces seems to last them quite a while, and they soon get over it.

 

I'll usually make a run to Squirrel's Nest and get some all-natural candy too. Nancy Kemble is a fantastic person. She is the one that turned us on to Feingold, and it has made such a difference for us. Finding her was a real "life-saver" (all natural, of course) for us.

 

Jeff

[Ausclare]

Hi Claire,

 

Luckily we don't have much of a problem with Halloween, we don't celebrate it as much over here.

If I was in your place and I had spent years arguing about the effect that stuff has on his system, I would probably be fed up with negotiating.

 

Then I would try a different tact of not arguing, but let him eat what he wants and as much as he wants, as long as he lets you film the before and after effect.

 

I took my oldest and worse case son to a restaurant once for lunch, just the two of us for a treat.

While we were there a family of two adults, three kids walked in and sat at a table near us. I was impressed with the way the children sat nicely and behaved themselves, (and wished the same for myself one day!) I commented to my son about them, and as I did the waitress bought all the kids large glasses of bright red raspberry lemonade (soda).

 

I asked my son to watch what would happen in about 20mins. Sure enough the effect on those children was so obvious even my son could see it. They were unable to sit still, had begun to be cheeky to their parents and became very unruly and obnoxious. I felt really sorry for them.

Then I explained to my son that this was what certain foods did to him, and I think that even though he knew why he shouldn't have them, it took this picture to really sink it in.

 

Since then whenever he has been to a "normal" birthday party and come home with the bag of lollies (poison!) he will have one or two and then hand the bag to me knowing that I will throw them out (before the other two see!). Usually even with the small amount he has, the tics are increased to really noticable.

 

It may not work for your son, but it was just a thought.

 

Love & healing

Clare

[Claire]

Thanks again all. I am taking these thoughts to heart.

 

Claire

[Claire]

Happy Halloween!

 

Claire