Chicago Department of Public Health Offers Families Six Tips to Curb the Candy on Halloween

Healthy Treats

To help curb the candy this Halloween, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has six tips to help Chicago families reduce sugar intake from the sweets and treats of celebration.

“Moderation is important,” said Chicago Public Health Commissioner, Bechara Choucair, M.D. “Parents play an active role in reducing sugar consumption and instilling healthy behaviors in their family.

“This is a perfect time for parents to have those important discussions about healthy eating with their children.”

Families can curb the candy by:

Handing out healthy treats like packs of raisins, pretzels or 100-calorie snack packs.
Distributing coloring books, pens and pencils instead of candy.
Giving children a good meal prior to trick-or-treating to discourage them from filling up on treats.
Donating half of your treats to food banks, charities, or a dental office’s incentive program.
Remembering oral health. Sticky candies like taffy stick to your teeth. Hard sugary candies are held in the mouth longer, giving bacteria more time to create acid that weakens tooth enamel.
Examining all treats closely and throwing away spoiled, unwrapped and suspicious items. Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid homemade treats.

CDPH strives to make Chicago a safer and healthier place by working with community partners to promote health, prevent disease, reduce environmental hazards and ensure access to health care for all Chicagoans. For more information about CDPH programs and initiatives, including its public health agenda, Healthy Chicago, visit www.CityOfChicago.org/Health.