The "healthiest" Halloween candy is...

Have you heard of the Switch Witch? 🧙‍♀️🔮

Author

The Weekly Parent
October 17, 2023

TOP OF MIND

Witches get stitches
A Health coach/dad named Levi Jensen sparked an INTENSE debate online after sharing a seemingly innocent video to his Instagram account. In the video, Levi introduces everyone to the return of the Switch Witch, a mythical creature who replaces your kids' Halloween candy haul with toys in the middle of the night.

In the video, Jensen notes, "Trick-or-treating is fun, but kids don't really need all that candy, so here's what we do instead."

The important bits
Okay, so how exactly does the Switch Witch operate? Basically, your kid gets to choose five or six pieces of candy from their Halloween loot, and the rest of the candy gets placed out on the porch in a bucket. In the middle of the night, the Switch Witch comes by and replaces the sugary sweets with a toy.

"When we posted the video, we had no idea the comments would be so heated," Levi's wife, Emily, told TODAY.

The post was viewed over a million times and thousands of comments came pouring in, with most of them being negative. One critic wrote, "This is a great way to create a child with fear of certain foods and start them on a life of disordered eating habits!"

Other people simply commented, "Horrible parents."

But Emily and Levi insist they aren't horrible parents and they aren't trying to "zap the fun" out of Halloween. They simply want to limit the sugar their daughter consumes. And for those who say, "It's just one night!" Emily says it's not just one night.

Some people were commenting ‘Oh, it’s just one night a year,’ — but it’s not just one night a year. You get candy at birthday parties, and at parades, and during the holidays.

We do our best not to classify food as either 'good' or 'bad,' We just want her to understand that foods can be more nutritious or less nutritious, and to prioritize foods with more nutrients.

What's it all mean?
We can't tell you whether the Switch Witch is a good idea or not, but we can tell you that we all could probably stand to be a little less judgemental of other parents. The parenting culture on social media can be so full of shame, and somehow, everyone who comments has all the answers.

But NO ONE has all the answers. If you want to limit the amount of candy your kids' eat on Halloween, maybe the Switch Witch is the answer!

If not? Great.

And if you find yourself confused and somewhere in the middle, maybe this article will help you make an informed decision.

DID YOU HEAR

Speaking of candy
It's going to cost you more than ever to hand out candy this year. Candy prices are nearing record highs in some parts of the country, thanks in large part to higher priced ingredients and higher shipping costs.

Prices for M&M's and Sour Patch Kids have increased more than 13% in some places. But never fear, Halloween will NOT be canceled. Instead, people are just spending more. According to the reports, consumers are set to spend a record $12.2 billion this year on candy, costumes and decorations.

Speaking of candy x2
What are the "healthiest" Halloween candies? A registered dietitian gives top nod to Peanut M&Ms, primarily because the peanuts add some nutritional value. For this same reason, Snickers also ranks high on the list. If you're not into chocolate or peanuts, Smarties are the healthiest option. One serving contains just 6 grams of sugar. For comparison, a serving of Sour Patch Kids has 24 grams of sugar.

Thankfully, this dietitian did not reveal how many grams of sugar are in 37 servings of Reese's. 👀

Stop making your kids say "sorry"
Chances are, you've told your children to apologize to one another multiple times, but according to this doctor you should have them do this instead, because after all, actions speak louder than words.

What is the "75 Mom" fitness craze?
Earlier this year, a truly insane workout challenge called "75 Hard" went viral. The challenge required participants to complete two 45-minute workouts (one of which must be outside), read 10 pages of a book and drink a gallon of water every single day for 75 days straight. No surprise, it sent at least one woman to the hospital.

Thankfully, moms have come to the rescue by offering a much more approachable challenge called 75 Mom. Although, be warned the challenge still calls for you to drink a gallon of water every day, which can be harmful for some people.

Potty training?
Here are 30 of the best tips and tricks to help save your sanity.

A DOSE OF GOOD

JUST FOR YOU

Bites: While you’re in the Halloween-prep mode, get your kiddos ready for a night of candy consumption with these filling - yet festive - pre-game pastas. Creamy vegan pumpkin pasta from @loveandlemons is a family pleaser (this version also adds apple and sage to the pumpkin for additional tastes of fall). If you're an omnivore, the sausage added in this one pot spicy pumpkin pasta will suit you just fine. As an alternative to pasta, this pumpkin gnocchi served with browned butter is an excellent choice, or opt for this Thai pumpkin curry which provides an alternative to pasta, while still evoking fall.

Deals: We told you candy is more expensive than ever this year, but you can still save money if you shop smart. You can find the best deals on Halloween candy here and you can find the best $35 and under outdoor Halloween decorations here. And finally, here are over 50 Halloween costumes you can easily make yourself for little (or no) money!

Hacks: Struggling to capture a decent photo of your kid smiling? The solution might be as simple as yelling "poop!" right before you snap the photo. A children's book author named Adam Perry shared side-by-side photos of his 5-year-old son smiling for the camera. In one image, the smile looks forced and unnatural, and the other? Pure joy. And it's all thanks to the word "poop" according to Perry. In addition to making your kid laugh with goofy words, you can incorporate these 4 iPhone tricks.

PARENTING WIN/FAIL

Parenting wins are sometimes ambiguous, as loyal reader Nora G. explains below...

My 13-month-old daughter has developed a habit of dropping little bits of food on the floor for our dog to eat. She thinks it's hilarious. Can't stop laughing when she does it. This has made our floor a complete mess at times because our dog doesn't like everything she drops. She pouts when he doesn't eat it. And I guess she was getting tired of being disappointed, so now she has learned to only drop food he eats! That's a win, right?!?

Nora, that's a win for everyone, dog included! If you have a parenting win/fail you'd like to share, email us at [email protected] and your story might be featured in a future edition!

HERE’S A QUESTION

How do you feel about the Switch Witch?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Last week, we asked you what you'd like to see more of in our newsletter, and "money saving deals" was the top choice, followed closely by parenting tips and tricks!

RECALLS

Family Dollar has issued a voluntary recall on nearly 300-over-the-counter drugs, toothpastes and medical devices. The recalled items were sold in around two dozen states, according to the company announcement published by the FDA.

The items in question, which include lip balm, cold medicine, toothpaste, mouthwash and more, were stored outside of labeled temperature requirements and inadvertently shipped to multiple stores earlier this year. The products were sold between June and Oct. 4.

Family Dollar claims they have not heard of any illnesses from their customers and that they're issuing the recall out of "an abundance of caution."

You can view a full list of the impacted items by clicking here. If you happen to have one of the products, return it to your local Family Dollar for a full refund. No receipt needed.