Horrors and scares are everywhere on Halloween, but nothing is scarier than your child’s stomachache after candy. You know, the one they come down with every year, about 10 minutes after they rip open the first candies and start the carnage. There’s nothing wrong with indulging in a few sweet treats on Halloween, but it’s no fun when your little ones (or not-so-little ones) get the tummies after the sugar kicks in.
There are a few reasons why a stomach ache happens, none of which will surprise you too much. “Candy is made of nutrients and non-nutrients,” said Dyadin Esharif, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist and medical director at Pediatric Gastroenterology of Florida, SheKnows says. Some of these ingredients: sugar, artificial sweeteners and food preservatives. “While eating candy in reasonable amounts is generally considered safe,” explains Dr. Essarif, too much candy can cause problems for children in the short term and even in the long term.
Eating too much candy—as kids (and TBH, many of us adults) tend to do on Halloween—can cause bloating, indigestion, stomachaches, and altered bowel habits. If excessive sugar intake becomes a long-term problem, there is the potential for weight gain and, as ongoing research examines, possible alteration of the healthy bacterial content of the gastrointestinal tract (aka the gut). This has been linked to “chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and a high risk of infection,” says Dr. Esharif.
Plus, it’s not like eating fiber and staying hydrated—both of which can help regulate your child’s bowel—are high Halloween priorities. Eating too quickly and possible food allergies or sensitivities to candy ingredients, such as nuts and dairy, can also contribute to stomach aches, says Kristen Navarette, MD, pediatrician and medical director at Health MVPsays SheKnows.
So how can you help your child bounce back from a Halloween stomach ache, or better yet, avoid it in the first place? Dr. Esharif and Dr. Navarette offered some simple advice.
Limit portions. Have your child pick out a handful of their favorite candies to enjoy on Halloween night (or whenever you’re trick-or-treating), then encourage them to save the rest for later in the week. It’s not easy to set these boundaries, but remind them that it will be just as delicious tomorrow when they open their lunchbox for a treat!
Encourage them to try natural candy. Dr. Esharif recommends offering candies that come from natural sources (think: fruit snacks or dried fruit) to balance out the artificial sweeteners. They may not be your child’s favorite, but it encourages them to explore a different part of their palate and provides a nice break for their gut.
Eat a meal before trick-o-treating. The oldest trick in the books really works. This ensures your kids don’t eat candy on an empty stomach, explains Dr. Navarette, “something that can help limit the amount of candy they eat on Halloween night” and gets some nutrients into their stomachs to help with digestion. “Make sure this meal includes protein, fiber and healthy fats,” adds Karina Wenker, a Nutritional Therapist who works with mothers of young children. “Think turkey chili loaded with extra veggies or a roasted chicken and root vegetable skillet meal. When we start the night with nutrition, it’s easier to enjoy a few treats without feeling out of control.”
Stay hydrated. Both experts recommend that children drink plenty of water on Halloween, as drinking water can aid digestion. It’s a good idea to offer them a drink before you go trick-or-treating and give them a bottle to take along for the ride.
Be aware of your child’s food allergies. Make sure you (or your child, if they’re older) keep an eye on the sweets they pick up to make sure they don’t accidentally ingest allergens or ingredients they’re sensitive to.
Relieve stomach aches with water, rest, and a warm compress. If a stomach ache has already set in, encourage your child to drink water, rest for a while and avoid more sweet treats, says Dr. Navarette. “A warm compress or heating pad placed over the stomach and gently massaging your child’s stomach can also help relieve symptoms,” she adds. When they are feeling better, make sure they eat a balanced meal with plenty of fiber, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, to help regulate their digestion. You can also use this opportunity “to teach your child about healthy eating habits and the importance of balancing treats with nutritious foods,” says Dr. Navarette.
Try creative solutions. Steal Wenker’s fun “Switch Witch” strategy: “On Halloween night, my kids pick out a few pieces of candy they want to eat and then leave the rest for the Switch Witch who trades it for a small toy or gift. My 4-year-old loved it so much, he was talking about the Switch Witch!”
Bottom line: to avoid a stomach ache after Halloween, encourage your child to drink water and limit sweets, and make sure healthy meals are on the menu for the rest of the day. Be sure to talk to your pediatrician if your child has severe or persistent stomach aches.
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