In this week’s Six O’Clock Scramble newsletter, I addressed the benefits of using fresh vs. frozen vs. canned foods, and touched on the issue of BPA in cans which may pose a danger to our health.  For more on this topic, please read the following article by Naomi Starkman of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports (a source I’ve long trusted):  http://civileats.com/2009/11/02/tests-find-wide-range-of-bisphenol-a-in-canned-soups-juice-and-more/

In the last few weeks a few terrific websites have been sending new customers my way.  I want to thank Nicole Heady’s Capture the Moment blog, Austin Kidbits, and Daily Candy Kids, in particular for their features:

http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2009/10/happytuesday.html

http://www.dailycandy.com/kids/all-cities/article/76882/Aviva-Goldfarbs-Mini-Meatloaf-Muffin-Recipe

http://austin.gokidbits.com/tidbit/word-to-your-mother-2

I appreciate the recognition of these bloggers and feel fortunate that their authors enjoy The Scramble enough to help me spread the word.  Thank you!

Continued from this week’s newsletter:

“We do have an informal, but tried and true system.  We tend to let the kids go a little crazy on Halloween night. As the kids get settled into enjoying their treats, we take out plastic storage containers and label them with each child’s name. We have them put their candy in their container and then we put the containers on a high shelf in a cabinet they cannot reach. They are so excited about having such a big supply of “their own” candy at home they don’t notice they don’t get to eat it all in one night. Then, it is used as a treat or reward throughout the few months. By Xmas, it is so forgotten about that we can usually pitch and/or donate some and nobody notices. I think they get to fully enjoy Halloween in a more limited way with this plan.”

Julie Rocchio, Alexandria, VA

“We usually let the kids go a bit wild on Halloween night.  Then we save the rest of the candy in their candy buckets (plastic pumpkins) and they get 1 or 2 pieces a night for dessert.  We replenish the buckets with goody bag stuff from birthday parties and it ends up lasting all year.  I usually throw out whatever is still in the buckets just before Halloween and we start over.  Interestingly, both my kids used to be totally addicted to sweets and now Hannah seems to be growing out of it.   I do think that by allowing them to have a little something every night, it doesn’t send the message that it’s a forbidden food, and therefore extremely desirable.”

Jennifer Grosman, Washington, DC

“We sort of let them go nuts and eat themselves sick on the 31st and the day after, as long as they also eat some regular food for meals. After that, though, when the thrill has worn off a little, they put their favorites in a big Ziploc bag, donate the ickies to the trash or daddy, and they get one piece a day in their lunchbox until it’s gone (which we sometimes help along on the sly, although they are getting better memories).”
Diana Molavi, Lutherville, MD

 ”We’re pretty strict about nutrition; we try to teach our kids (ages 10 and 6) to eat healthfully, and that moderation and portion control are critical.  We talk a lot about the effects that poor food choices make on your body, heart, weight, etc.  With respect to desserts, we’re careful about how much they are eating on a regular basis and try to avoid sweets as snacks.  However, we generally let the kids keep all of the candy they receive at Halloween and Christmas (except for anything with trans fats).  They can have a few pieces on the holiday but the rest has to go in a plastic candy container.  They can choose a small piece or two (I try to limit it to about 75 calories or less) from their containers after dinner each night if they’ve eaten a balanced meal. This is generally my husband’s and my philosophy as well — just something small after dinner — a stark contrast to the way I grew up, with virtually no limits on desserts, on holidays or any other days.”  
Melinda Kelley, Potomac, MD

“In all honesty, I am probably the worst offender of sweets in October — weather change and daylight savings — it all adds up to a huge sweet tooth for me.  So I wait to purchase the candy I am going to give out and I try to purchase candy that I know is popular to many but not so much with me or with my family.  Before we go out, I try to fill my kids up with more protein than normal to offset the sugar high — not sure it works but I feel better. After we trick or treat and have traded, I let the kids eat whatever that night.  We then send a bunch to Eric’s work (many single folks there), bag some for the soldiers donations (usually going on in our area), and freeze some.  I keep a freezer bag worth for a snack here and there but they usually forget about all of it after less than a week.  But I don’t…so I have to move it out or I eat it!!”

Tricia Nudelman, Chevy Chase, MD

“While we are trick-or-treating, the boys are allowed to eat several pieces of candy.  When we get home, they sort through their haul and then pick out 15 - 20 pieces that they can keep.  These pieces stay in the pantry and they are allowed to eat one a day until it’s gone.  Believe it or not, they usually get bored with it and I am always throwing candy out the first week in October the following year!  The rest disappears like ghosts!  Actually, in the past we have donated our extra candy to a group that sends it to troops stationed overseas.  This year, I will be collecting it myself to send to my nephew Lee and his battalion who are stationed in Iraq.  I don’t stress about the candy because our boys eat healthily normally, so a little doesn’t hurt.  Everything in moderation!”

Ronnie Warner, Chevy Chase, MD

“For my young children, I allow them a couple pieces of candy for about a week after the trick or treating.  After that, I throw it away.  For older children, I suggest explaining WHY candy needs to be limited.  Explain what candy does NOT offer them nutritionally — and it does not help them meet their educational and energy goals if eaten in excess.  Allow them up to 2 pieces of candy per day and then slowly get the candy out of the house.  It’s much easier once the candy is gone - the battle is over!”

Angela Lemond, RD, Allen, TX, http://www.foodtherapyrd.com
“I go through the candy and throw out anything with food dyes.  That basically leaves mainly the chocolate stuff.  Then I let them have one candy a day for 2 weeks.  So, they can pick their 14 candies up front, and then I throw the rest away.  Also, my hubby and I take some for ourselves.”

Maxine Silverman, Falls Church, VA

“We don’t allow eating during trick or treat, and then we go through the loot when we get home.  My 8 year old is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts.  She tries not to take candy that she can’t eat, but we double check when at home, and if she ended up with some by accident, she trades with her 6 year old sister.  They’re allowed to eat some that night, then their bags go on top of the fridge.  When they were really little, I started to allow them to have dessert (candy) after breakfast and lunch, but not after supper.  We’ve continued that habit, but now that they are in school and rushing out after breakfast, they don’t get much chance to eat candy!  We allow them to have a piece or two after school or more on weekends.   When most of the “good” stuff is gone, the remainder is dumped into a common jar (also on top of the fridge).  We nibble it now and then.”

Katie Ellis, Durham, NH

“Halloween is the one time that I’m thankful my son has nut allergies!  So much of his “loot” has to be given away to us because so much of it has nuts.  So it helps keep the amount of candy he can even eat down to a minimum.  We also are home before the older kids are done trick-or-treating so we put all the “nut” candy back into our giveaway bowl, which cuts down on my sugar overload.  I’m also lucky in that my kids are still right now very out of sight, out of mind, and after a day or so, don’t even remember we have it.  We still have a fairly big bag leftover from last year!” 

Debbie Brodsky, Bethesda, MD, http://www.dmbpictures.com

“When my kids were much younger and I wanted to limit their sugar without being a total nag, I let them eat a lollipop while they were trick or treating.  They were thrilled to be eating candy but since lollipops take a long time to eat, they weren’t begging to eat all the other goodies they were collecting.  I realize that there are other hazards that go with eating lollipops while walking, but it worked for us.  Now that the kids are older, I let them eat whatever they want on Halloween night.  After a while, they cut themselves off.”

Ilene Weinreich, Chevy Chase, MD

“Our kids spend more time trading than actually eating. We let them take a piece or two in their lunch each day for about a week. We do let them keep their candy, and I always find a sack of stale candy a few months later, which I quietly throw away. I also make a point to feed them a good dinner before they go trick or treating so they will be too full to eat a lot of candy… or if they do eat a lot, it will be on a full stomach instead of an empty one.”

Heller An Shapiro, Chevy Chase, MD

“We have the kids store the candy in the kitchen where everyone can see someone eating/pilfering junk.  We used to have them parcel out a few pieces each day, which means they have longer exposure to high sugar content.  But last year we went with our pediatrician’s advice and let them have as much as they wanted in the first several (3-4) days, then it goes away (either donate or trash).  It was not that popular and only one of my kids really balked, but the doctor says it’s better for their teeth/body not to have small amounts over a longer period of time.  My home growing up was REALLY stingy with sweets, so I have always loved Halloween and indulge just as much with the kids with no guilt.  It’s only once a year!  Bring on them Snickers!”

Jackie Kelley, Bethesda, MD, www.clearinghousenow.com

“I usually let them pick 3 or 4 pieces of candy on Halloween night.  Then each night after dinner, they can pick 2 (fun sized) pieces for their “treat” if they want.  I find that they sort of forget about it after about a week.  We have a small-ish Christmas Cookie Tin (”The Santa Box”) that we keep candy in for occasional treats.  So after the excitement has worn off, I tell them each that they can pick 10-15 pieces of candy to put in “The Santa Box” and the rest is going in the trash.  I used to just pick and dump myself, but now that they are older (7 and 9) I think they can be part of the decision process.”

Kristen Bassick, Chester Springs, PA

You probably are doing most of the things suggested in this article right already, but I think it offers some great “food for thought” (sorry, couldn’t resist).  Annoying caveat:  The article has so many ads that it makes you flip through about 7 pages for what should be a 1 or 2 page article: http://www.lifescript.com/Life/Family/Parenting/10_Ways_Youre_Making_Your_Child_Fat.aspx

Tonight I made my baked sweet potato recipe from the Scramble, but instead of eating them out of the skins, I scraped the flesh of the potatoes into a bowl and mashed it with a little butter, maple syrup and chopped walnuts.  Wow, it was fantastic!  Let me know if you come up with any clever variations on Scramble recipes–I’d love to try them for myself.

Many of you Scramblers already know your way around the supermarket pretty well, but I think this article by my friend Debi Silber, the Mojo Coach, has some excellent advice if you’re feeling less confident about how to choose what to purchase at the grocery store. 

http://themojocoach.com/blog/2009/09/18/becoming-supermarket-savvy/

By the way, make sure and check out Debi’s site if you are a mom who is interested in discovering ways to live a healthier lifestyle and get your “mojo” back.