Candy Explosion

Now that Halloween is over and your candy dishes are overflowing, what can you do with all of that sweet stuff?  Well, we certainly do not want the kids eating it all in one sitting or even finishing it all within a week.  What can all of the treats be used for?

Put some aside for a rainy day.  Do you have a good place to stash some of the candy for a special treat on a sad or lonely day?  Putting some candy away will help reduce the urge for your children to overindulge in sweet treats and give you something to look forward to on a day that needs a little sweetening.

Freeze some candy.  Your candy will last longer by placing it in the freezer.  This will allow you to spread your candy consumption across a longer time period, preventing obsessive candy eating.

Take some to the office.  I know my kids could never eat all of their candy.  A great way of dealing with the mass piles of candy your kids get, is to share some of it with coworkers.  It will disappear and your kids won't get those extra cavities for your next dental visit.  If your kids are like mine, they won't really miss it.  It seems they get way too much anyway.

Use the candy as rewards.  Allow your child to choose one or two pieces of candy as a reward for good behavior, good grades, or anything positive that deserves a tasty treat.  This will give you a positive reinforcement for behavior, as well as assist in limiting sugar intake.