Let’s be honest, Halloween is a lot of fun and there’s few things better as a kid than coming home with a huge sack full of sweet—literally—loot. Believe it or not, most of the dentists we’ve met in our career are fans of everyone’s favorite spooky holiday. The problem with Halloween for parents and dentists alike is how much candy kids often consume from their stash in a short amount of time.
It’s good to help your kids practice moderation with their mountains of candy, but sometimes your kids also have a particularly good haul and get more than their fair share of the estimated 300,000 tons of candy that trick-or-treaters take home every year. If Thanksgiving starts creeping up and you discover your kids still have a heap of chocolate, candy, and lollipops, these tips are for you. Our practice came up with a few of our most creative ideas for parents who find themselves with too much leftover Halloween candy.
Make Trail Mix with Your Leftover Halloween Candy
This tip is great if you have an active family or kids in sports because trail mix can be a great energy source for hikes, practices, or competitions. It also makes your dentist happy because it spreads out a few bags of candy, so kids don’t eat them in one setting, and mixes the candy up with healthier foods that aren’t so bad for your teeth.
Donate Your Leftover Halloween Candy
If your kid is one of those who attacks Halloween with a plan and comes home with multiple sacks of candy every year, this option might work with a few convincing conversations. It’s also a great way to teach generosity. There are scout troops, youth groups, and religious organizations who would gladly take some candy off your hands. They might even make a yummy trail mix with it!
Use Leftover Halloween Candy for Upcoming Birthday Cakes
If you like to bake birthday cakes (or any sweets) for your family or loved ones, Halloween candy makes a good ingredient or topping. Crush up those excess candy bars and freeze them so they store for longer. Share your baked goodies at the office, buy a little goodwill with your coworkers, and keep some of that sugary candy off your family’s teeth all at the same time.
Thanks for Reading!
We hope these tips give you some good ideas of your own if you find yourself with a house still full of Halloween candy. Our practice your wishes you and your family a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.
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