Halloween is meant to be spooky, but ghosts and monsters aren’t the only things scaring parents. The excessive amounts of candy your kid will get and eat after trick-or-treating is another terrifying aspect of Halloween day that all parents dread. However, we cannot deny that it is one of the most cherished and looked forward-to holidays for kids, making it very difficult to avoid.  And why would you want to? Aside from the odd sugar high, it's a very amazing day with kids dressed up, playing games, and hanging out with friends.

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So the picture is pretty clear, what we need is to strike a balance in the craziness and adopt a more sane approach to the trick-or-treat candy overabundance! How?

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With these 5 simple ideas that will allow you and your kids to have an amazing, fun, and healthy Halloween celebration without risking a sugar rush!

1. Fill up the tank

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Kids are going to be eager to go trick or treating, but before the candy hunt begins, fill your child's stomach with a healthy dinner. The secret is to be creative with some great Halloween-themed meals  like spooky “eyeball” spaghetti and meatballs, foods that will enchant them and make them less likely to overindulge in candy. As the candy bags begin to fill, you’ll be the proud parent of a kid who has already had a nutritious meal and is more interested in running around with friends than eating a truckload of candy.

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2. Say goodbye to the monster bag

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The pillowcase bag is a Halloween classic, but not necessarily the best idea if you want your kids to enjoy a healthy celebration. Ditch the huge bags and choose or construct a smaller collection container for your child. Teach your kids that if they only take one piece of candy per house, they will be able to visit more houses and have fun for a longer time.

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3. An opportunity to practice generosity

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When the candy-searching expedition is over and you're back home, ask your kids to set aside some candy for other kids who might not have had the opportunity to trick or treat.

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Well, actually, it might be better to do this BEFORE they have already ingested sugar-loaded candy. So another strategy would be to talk to them as you're leaving the house and tell them that this year they will not only be trick or treating for themselves but also collecting candy for the staff families in your buildings.

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It’s a great way to reduce the amount of candy in the house, but also an amazing opportunity to teach them generosity and compassion while winding down by separating candy, making “good bags” for other kids, and sharing the happiness.

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4. The art of negotiation

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If you’ve already applied all these “tactics” and your kids’ rooms still look like Willy Wonka's ultimate dream, you can use the art of negotiation to teach your kids the value of things and how to prioritize. There are some really interesting studies showing the benefits of teaching your kids negotiation.

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The concept here is pretty simple, you’re “buy back” their excess candy with other healthy or educational things they might want. A trip to the zoo, maybe? Sure, it’ll only be 3 lollipops and 2 chocolate bars, please!

5. ¡Have fun!

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The best piece of advice, to be honest. If you plan ahead and set some “ground rules” everything will be just fine! Have fun with your kids, be a part of it and enjoy the evening with loved ones and friends while keeping in mind that a tiny sugar rush won't last forever. Stressing too much over the amount of candy your youngster eats will only make you and your child unhappy; so try to make the most of the night.

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Have fun trick-or-treating!