For my 3 year old, she can pick 1 piece of candy to have as dessert after she eats dinner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's works for me is to let my daughter have dessert every other night. she can pick candy or she can pick something else if we have other kinds of sweets in the house (I definitely have a sweet so I don't usually buy cookies or cake or anything unless it's a special occasion).

I also recommend not trick or treating more candy than you think you're going to need.

Disagree with second sentence. For a lot of kids, mine included, the act of trick or treating is way more fun than the candy itself.

So just knock on the door and say hi to the neighbors, don't take the candy. It is really OK to do that.

Ew, no. That's just weird. "Trick or treat!" "Trick or Treat!" "Trick or Treat!" "Hi! Oh, no thanks. Just saying hi!"

That’s the trick part!
Seriously people like me stress over having enough candy to give out. If you’re just collecting candy and not going to eat it, please just say hi, or do you like my costume? and be on your way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never limited my kids. They love getting it and they each ate maybe 1-2 pieces last night but then their buckets sat ignored in the floor while they watched Hocus Pocus. I have never ever limited or restricted any food in our house so my kids aren’t convinced this is a free for all where they might never get candy again. It’s just candy. I guarantee I will throw away 97% of this or take it to work because they just don’t care to eat it all and forget about it.

Don't hurt your arm patting yourself on the back. Some kids don't care about the candy, but it's not because you don't restrict it. Some kids will gorge themselves every day and not eat other food if it isn't restricted. Some kids won't care much, whether it's restricted or not. The same is true of adults.

The op asked for what people do. I responded with what we do and that it works for us which is what was asked. You’re only accusing me of patting myself on the back because it’s not your situation but it’s a neutral response to a question.

You’re responding to me here, but it was other posters below who thought the same thing I did about your self-congratulatory post. I was annoyed by the cause and effect you are drawing with the word “so.” You clearly think it was your superior strategy that led to this great result. I actually did not mention my situation when I responded to you. I’ve got two kids and one is pretty indifferent to sweets and the other one really loves sugar. We raised them the same.

My kids ages 6 and 4 get a few pieces that night, then put it in zip locks bags, and just distribute it randomly(treat after dinner, in lunch box, after school etc) until it’s gone. There’s always good amount of stuff in there they don’t like, plus we eat some and they only fill up their pumpkin buckets, not pillow cases, so it not a a ton anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never limited my kids. They love getting it and they each ate maybe 1-2 pieces last night but then their buckets sat ignored in the floor while they watched Hocus Pocus. I have never ever limited or restricted any food in our house so my kids aren’t convinced this is a free for all where they might never get candy again. It’s just candy. I guarantee I will throw away 97% of this or take it to work because they just don’t care to eat it all and forget about it.

Don't hurt your arm patting yourself on the back. Some kids don't care about the candy, but it's not because you don't restrict it. Some kids will gorge themselves every day and not eat other food if it isn't restricted. Some kids won't care much, whether it's restricted or not. The same is true of adults.

The op asked for what people do. I responded with what we do and that it works for us which is what was asked. You’re only accusing me of patting myself on the back because it’s not your situation but it’s a neutral response to a question.

No you explained that your parenting resulted in children with healthy eating habits

No, I didn’t. I never mentioned healthy food or habits in any way. I said I don’t limit treats and as a result they eat what want and forget about it. YOU inferred that as me claiming “we eat healthy.” I didn’t mention any other thing about my kids’ eating habits or diet beyond the Halloween candy.

"I have never ever limited or restricted any food in our house so my kids aren’t convinced this is a free for all where they might never get candy again.'

This seems a whole lot like cause and effect to me..I never mentioned anything about your eating habits..but probably not worth debating.

Yes, go after the other people among these 5 pages who said they have a similar tactic with their kids. For some reason those didn’t strike a nerve with you despite the content being the same.

I was the last poster but only posted once. I am not going after you just agreeing that I took your comment the same way as the others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never limited my kids. They love getting it and they each ate maybe 1-2 pieces last night but then their buckets sat ignored in the floor while they watched Hocus Pocus. I have never ever limited or restricted any food in our house so my kids aren’t convinced this is a free for all where they might never get candy again. It’s just candy. I guarantee I will throw away 97% of this or take it to work because they just don’t care to eat it all and forget about it.

Don't hurt your arm patting yourself on the back. Some kids don't care about the candy, but it's not because you don't restrict it. Some kids will gorge themselves every day and not eat other food if it isn't restricted. Some kids won't care much, whether it's restricted or not. The same is true of adults.

The op asked for what people do. I responded with what we do and that it works for us which is what was asked. You’re only accusing me of patting myself on the back because it’s not your situation but it’s a neutral response to a question.

No you explained that your parenting resulted in children with healthy eating habits

No, I didn’t. I never mentioned healthy food or habits in any way. I said I don’t limit treats and as a result they eat what want and forget about it. YOU inferred that as me claiming “we eat healthy.” I didn’t mention any other thing about my kids’ eating habits or diet beyond the Halloween candy.

"I have never ever limited or restricted any food in our house so my kids aren’t convinced this is a free for all where they might never get candy again.'

This seems a whole lot like cause and effect to me..I never mentioned anything about your eating habits..but probably not worth debating.

Yes, go after the other people among these 5 pages who said they have a similar tactic with their kids. For some reason those didn’t strike a nerve with you despite the content being the same.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop giving you children so much unhealthy food & sugar from an early age. Also, don't ban it either. Moderation and a variety of foods are key. And stop blaming genetics for everything. Genetics have not changed so drastically over the past 50 years. The way we consume food has. But yes, blame it all on that sugar addiction your child was born with. lol

In fact I said the opposite- he doesn’t like sweets at all. We were both raised on the same diet (think healthy Asian diet) yet I have a extremely hard time resisting sweets. Kid doesn’t. Plus science clearly states genetics are in play. So it is super annoying when people smugly announce their kids don’t have issues bc of how they were raised. They just got lucky their kid didn’t pull that gene card. Over the past few weeks I’ve read several DCUM posts from parents struggling with a child’s sweet tooth. The parents don’t seem to be feeding the kids particularly poorly. The kids are just predisposed to love sweets.

Also you are right that we have changed in 50 years as far as food we consume. Those with the addiction issue have a much harder time nowadays bc sweets are everywhere and sugar is in everything.

This is what has been hardest for us. Sure, when she was little we could feed her in the way we wanted her to eat, but as soon as she started going to birthday parties, play dates, overnights at grandparents, and even DC school where they give daily snack (most parents bring goldfish, nilla wafers, pirate booty, etc.), she's gotten LOTS of non-parent-approved snacks and sweets and LOVES them. She loves baking and now that she's old enough to do it independently, loved making lots of yummy treats. She is active, does sports, and eats a varied and nutritionally balanced diet, but I do worry about how much she *craves* dessert every day because I don't want to make it a food "thing" but I also don't want her to have no limits with it either. I have a huge sweet tooth and my dh likes sweets sometimes but can usually take or leave them.

So yes. My dd had and loved the most impressive baby diet you could imagine, and is still an adventurous eater who gets plenty of veggies. And she still places sugar goodies on a pedestal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never limited my kids. They love getting it and they each ate maybe 1-2 pieces last night but then their buckets sat ignored in the floor while they watched Hocus Pocus. I have never ever limited or restricted any food in our house so my kids aren’t convinced this is a free for all where they might never get candy again. It’s just candy. I guarantee I will throw away 97% of this or take it to work because they just don’t care to eat it all and forget about it.

Don't hurt your arm patting yourself on the back. Some kids don't care about the candy, but it's not because you don't restrict it. Some kids will gorge themselves every day and not eat other food if it isn't restricted. Some kids won't care much, whether it's restricted or not. The same is true of adults.

The op asked for what people do. I responded with what we do and that it works for us which is what was asked. You’re only accusing me of patting myself on the back because it’s not your situation but it’s a neutral response to a question.

No you explained that your parenting resulted in children with healthy eating habits

No, I didn’t. I never mentioned healthy food or habits in any way. I said I don’t limit treats and as a result they eat what want and forget about it. YOU inferred that as me claiming “we eat healthy.” I didn’t mention any other thing about my kids’ eating habits or diet beyond the Halloween candy.

"I have never ever limited or restricted any food in our house so my kids aren’t convinced this is a free for all where they might never get candy again.'

This seems a whole lot like cause and effect to me..I never mentioned anything about your eating habits..but probably not worth debating.

How do I police myself? We have a huge bowl of candy in my dining room. One DS literally ignores, other DS took some to school yesterday to share with his friends.

But I've been eating some every chance I get......

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never limited my kids. They love getting it and they each ate maybe 1-2 pieces last night but then their buckets sat ignored in the floor while they watched Hocus Pocus. I have never ever limited or restricted any food in our house so my kids aren’t convinced this is a free for all where they might never get candy again. It’s just candy. I guarantee I will throw away 97% of this or take it to work because they just don’t care to eat it all and forget about it.

Don't hurt your arm patting yourself on the back. Some kids don't care about the candy, but it's not because you don't restrict it. Some kids will gorge themselves every day and not eat other food if it isn't restricted. Some kids won't care much, whether it's restricted or not. The same is true of adults.

The op asked for what people do. I responded with what we do and that it works for us which is what was asked. You’re only accusing me of patting myself on the back because it’s not your situation but it’s a neutral response to a question.

No you explained that your parenting resulted in children with healthy eating habits

No, I didn’t. I never mentioned healthy food or habits in any way. I said I don’t limit treats and as a result they eat what want and forget about it. YOU inferred that as me claiming “we eat healthy.” I didn’t mention any other thing about my kids’ eating habits or diet beyond the Halloween candy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We put it in a bowl on the counter and the kids had a free for all the first night. They'd have some more the second day and then it tapered off. I never had to make a strict policy. We taught our kids to self-regulate food in general pretty well.

How did you do that? I think people say this but they don’t really know what it is like to have a sugar addiction/food addiction.

I have 2 kids who will walk away from an uneaten cookie and rarely finish cake at a BD party. I didn’t teach them this on purpose, but my husband’s family is like this and all naturally slim. We don’t have any weird food rules. We’re not precious about sweets and treats. Sometimes we have then and sometimes we don’t. We don’t make or cajole kids to eat foods they don’t want to. We serve healthy foods and model good behavior and don’t stress about what are kids don’t eat. My kids are both under 6. They never eat veggies. I give them veggies in smoothies and sauces. I also know they will come around. My mom said I didn’t eat anything green before age 8. Our Ped said just keep modeling eating moderate portions of healthy food. I have trouble resisting sweets but I grew up in a house where sweets were rationed and forbidden. My husband thinks of it as having a culture of abundance- there is no reason to overeat cookies or sneak cookies if you know there will be more cookies. My kids had as much as they wanted after preschool and K - which after class parties was 2-3 small pieces each. Friday they didn’t ask and I didn’t offer since my older one was going to a party that night and I knew he would have trays there. I will leave the bowls out in plain view (but out of reach) for a few weeks. I’ll give them one piece a day either after school or after dinner when they remember and ask. Eventually we’ll throw it in the cupboard and I will toss the remaining dregs around Easter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never limited my kids. They love getting it and they each ate maybe 1-2 pieces last night but then their buckets sat ignored in the floor while they watched Hocus Pocus. I have never ever limited or restricted any food in our house so my kids aren’t convinced this is a free for all where they might never get candy again. It’s just candy. I guarantee I will throw away 97% of this or take it to work because they just don’t care to eat it all and forget about it.

Don't hurt your arm patting yourself on the back. Some kids don't care about the candy, but it's not because you don't restrict it. Some kids will gorge themselves every day and not eat other food if it isn't restricted. Some kids won't care much, whether it's restricted or not. The same is true of adults.

The op asked for what people do. I responded with what we do and that it works for us which is what was asked. You’re only accusing me of patting myself on the back because it’s not your situation but it’s a neutral response to a question.

No you explained that your parenting resulted in children with healthy eating habits

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never limited my kids. They love getting it and they each ate maybe 1-2 pieces last night but then their buckets sat ignored in the floor while they watched Hocus Pocus. I have never ever limited or restricted any food in our house so my kids aren’t convinced this is a free for all where they might never get candy again. It’s just candy. I guarantee I will throw away 97% of this or take it to work because they just don’t care to eat it all and forget about it.

Don't hurt your arm patting yourself on the back. Some kids don't care about the candy, but it's not because you don't restrict it. Some kids will gorge themselves every day and not eat other food if it isn't restricted. Some kids won't care much, whether it's restricted or not. The same is true of adults.

The op asked for what people do. I responded with what we do and that it works for us which is what was asked. You’re only accusing me of patting myself on the back because it’s not your situation but it’s a neutral response to a question.

Mine are grown now. We didn’t have a “policy”. As long as they ate heathy meals, I didn’t limit the Halloween candy. After a few days all the good stuff was gone and they typically started to lose interest. I just tossed the rest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We put it in a bowl on the counter and the kids had a free for all the first night. They'd have some more the second day and then it tapered off. I never had to make a strict policy. We taught our kids to self-regulate food in general pretty well.

+1 that’s exactly what we have always done with our kids. Their friends who have houses with strict candy, sweets, desser, etc rules generally seem to have no restraint or self-regulation with food & have gone on to have food issues as they have gotten older

Isn't it possible that the reason they are strict is,because their kids are not as good about self regulating. If your kids,started regularly overdoing you might find yourself regulating?