DATE: 10/24/06

CONTACT: Dr. Katherine Cason, 864-656-0539; kcason@clemson.edu

WRITER: Diane Palmer, 864-656-4741; spalmer@clemson.edu

Teach children moderation at Halloween

CLEMSON – Moderation is the key when eating Halloween candy, according to Katherine Cason, professor in Clemson University’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition .

“Halloween is a very exciting time for children,” she said. “However, excessive intake of those yummy, sugary treats can lead to an upset stomach, cavities and weight gain.”

Consuming one chocolate ghost will not cause a problem, whereas an entire box might be more of an issue. Good nutrition practices learned at an early age may contribute to a decreased risk of developing obesity and other associated health problems later on in life.

Cason suggests using Halloween as a time to teach children that there are no bad foods, even candy, as long as it is eaten in moderation.

“For example, save one or two treats for every other day, twice a week, or once a week,” she said.

Cason says that children may be even less likely to crave additional candy if the candy treats are spread out evenly over a week or more. She also suggests making pumpkin pudding or whole grain oatmeal cookies made with artificial sweetener in fun Halloween shapes instead of regular sugary cookies.

“Childhood obesity is on the rise on the United States,” said Cason. “This is a good time of year to teach children not to binge on high calorie foods.”

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