Dr. Stuart Fisher

Let the holidays begin! Halloween is unofficially the start to the holiday season. A time of year that we all enjoy, yet struggle through as we try to reconcile our health with the food-centric festivities.

But you can make this Halloween happy and healthy with these simple suggestions to keep the fun but throw out the fat.

While many parents try not to think about it, it’s a fact that overweight can lead to obesity and obesity causes 40 different illnesses in 9 organ systems. “The well known consequences of obesity, namely diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease, are extremely lethal by themselves,” says Dr. Stuart Fisher, author of the best selling Park Avenue Diet. But many don’t connect that disorders such as Asthma, Sleep Disorders, Gallstones, Polycystic Ovary, certain cancers etc. are also related to obesity. And obesity is preventable.

Halloween can be a great time to teach kids about good nutrition, while still keeping the holiday fun for everyone. The fact that 1-in-3 American children are overweight or obese should be enough to push parents and care takers to rethink traditional Halloween trick-or-treating and go for something different this year.

Here are some party tips and fabulous food substitutions:

LIMIT JUICE AND SODA:
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 4-6 ounces of juice per day for children 1-6 and 8-12 ounces for 7-18 year olds. Dr. Fishers adds that overweight children should not be drinking juice or soda at all. Anyone trying to lose weight should only be drinking water. But, this may not be an easy change, so you may want to start by diluting the juice.

SWAP CANDY FOR REAL TREATS:
Serve yummy nutritious foods at your party. For example, instead of serving ice cream, substitute fresh fruit and low-fat yogurt parfaits or all fruit popsicles. You can also put out fresh baked pumpkinseeds or popcorn instead of candy corn. Why not give small raisin boxes, small bags of pretzels or mini granola bars to your trick-or-treaters instead of candy. At FITatudes we also like to broaden the definition of treat to include fun non-food items such as stickers, pencils or small toys. Just think outside the wrapper!

PLAY GAMES THAT BURN CALORIES:
Play a game of soccer or have a dance competition to get all the party goers moving. It’s important to get your kids to start associating physical activity with fun. Enjoy getting out to walk the neighborhood or the mall to show off your costume or go trick or treating.

MAKE THE SNACKS TOGETHER:
Take your child with you to the store and let them pick out what fruits will go in the yogurt parfait. As you make it explain how fresh fruits have vitamins that will make them strong, healthy, and attractive.

MAKE PLANS FOR THE LOOT:
After trick or treating many parents tend to let their kids have at it when they get home. But Dr. Fishers says “There is no reason why a child needs to eat more than two or three pieces of candy on October 31st.” So what do you do with all the candy that has been collected? “Store it – out of sight, out of mind,” says Dr. Fisher. You can use a few pieces at a time occasionally as part of a special surprise or celebration.

What’s most important is for parents to participate in this healthy holiday change. “The problem of obesity in families can only be solved if everyone participates. Parents are role models being observed continuously for decades,” Dr. Fisher explains. By teaching good eating habits you’ll be teaching your child a lesson that can lengthen their life.

Dr. Fischer is the founder of the Park Avenue Diet Center located in Manhattan, where he uses his expertise to consult adults and children on healthy weight loss.