By Ella, Nutrition Advisor

Trick or treating? Check out some ideas to support your little one’s nutrition at this time of year.*

Instead of coming to busts with your kids over candy, allow your children to learn self-regulation when they come to eat their stack of Halloween sweets:

  • Day 1: Let your child sort through all their sweets and chocolate and allow them to enjoy as little or as much as they want.
  • Day 2: Store the candy in a tin out of reach, allow your kid to choose a piece or two with their meal at lunch, dinner or snack time. A super sweet breakfast is not a good idea as it is likely to start their day off with a sugar rush and slump, which will leave them craving the stuff all day!
  • Day 3: Continue as Day 2 until all the sweets are gone or your young one forgets all about the supply! You can also encourage the kids to keep their stash to share at children’s birthday parties, or give treats away to friends, grandparents or charities.    

Most kids have a sweet-tooth and can be too young to understand the addictive spell chocolate and sugar can cast over us human beings! Instead of banishing unhealthy foods such as sugar completely from their diet so that eating becomes a psychologically charged issue, supply them with a range of naturally sweet, nutrient dense fruit and vegetables (such as veggie sticks and sliced fruit they can pick at) when they need an energy boost during the day.

70% of your child’s immune system is located within their digestive system, immune function has been linked to a healthy intestinal terrain. Unfortunately, sugar is a main source of food for unfriendly gut bacteria. Get your little ones back on a healthy path after Halloween with Garden of Life Microbiome Organic Kids +. This unique Certified Organic probiotic formula comes in a natural berry cherry flavour chewable that kids absolutely love, with the most clinically studied and diverse strains of live bacteria designed to support digestion, immunity, and overall wellness. Suitable from the age of four years old, it supplies plant-sourced Vitamin C and Vitamin D at the recommended daily dose. It is dairy free, gluten free and soya free and also incredibly practical- since no refrigeration is required.

If they are not getting enough energy-yielding nutrients from a balanced wholefood diet, youngsters can be on a constant look out for sugary foods to fill in that low energy gap. Vitamin C is one of those important nutrients, contributing to healthy growth, skin, immunity, mental wellbeing and energy levels. It is a water-soluble vitamin that cannot be stored by the body and so foods containing Vitamin C must be consumed daily. Fruits especially high in Vitamin C include citrus fruit and berries. Amla berry is one of the richest natural food sources:

If you want an extra boost this autumn or winter, mykind Organics Vitamin C Spray is an all-natural, certified organic Vitamin C suitable for both adults and children from the age of four. Made from Vitamin C rich Amla Berry and over 20 fruits and vegetables, this orange-tangerine spray tastes great and is very convenient, and easily carried so can be taken quickly and conveniently on the go.  Gluten-free and sugar-free, containing no artificial additives. 

Check our next blog (part 2) for adults: Post Halloween Part 2: Discover how to curb your sugar cravings!

*The claims are based on clinical research, are not aimed to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Food supplements should be used within the framework of a healthy lifestyle and not used as substitutes of a varied and balanced diet.