Spooks and scares are everywhere on Halloween, but nothing’s more frightening than your kid’s post-candy binge stomachache. You know, the one your child comes down with every year, about 10 minutes after they rip open the first candy bars and begin the carnage. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying some sweet treats on Halloween, but it’s no fun when your little (or not-so-little) ones feel the stomach distress after the sugar starts to hit.
There are a few reasons why the candy stomachache happens, none of which will surprise you too much. “Candy is made from nutritional and non-nutritional ingredients,” Dyadin Esharif, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist and medical director at Pediatrix Gastroenterology of Florida, tells SheKnows. Some of those ingredients: sugar, artificial sweeteners, and food preservatives. “While eating candy in reasonable portions is generally considered safe,” Dr. Esharif explains,” too much candy might cause problems for children in the short term and even long term.”
Eating candy excessively — as kids (and TBH, a lot of us adults) tend to do on Halloween — can cause bloating, indigestion, stomachaches, and alteration of bowel habits. If excessive sugar intake becomes a long-term issue, there’s the possibility of weight gain and, as ongoing research is looking into, potentially altering the healthy bacterial content of the gastrointestinal tract (aka your gut). That’s been linked to “chronic GI inflammation and high risk of infection,” Dr. Esharif says.
Plus, it’s not like eating fiber and staying hydrated — both of which can help regulate your child’s gut — are high priorities on Halloween. Eating too quickly and possible food allergies or sensitivities to candy ingredients like nuts and dairy can also contribute to stomachaches, Kristen Navarette, MD, a pediatrician and medical director at MVP Health Care, tells SheKnows.
So how can you help your kid bounce back from the Halloween stomachache or, better yet, avoid it in the first place? Dr. Esharif and Dr. Navarette offered some simple tips.
Limit portions. Have your kid pick out a handful of their favorite candies to enjoy on Halloween night (or whenever you go trick-o-treating), then encourage them to save the rest for later in the week. It’s not easy to set those limits, but remind them that it’ll taste just as good tomorrow when they open their lunchbox to a sweet treat!
Encourage them to try natural candy. Dr. Esharif recommends offering candy that’s from natural sources (think: fruit snacks or dried fruit) to balance out the artificial sweeteners. They might not be your kid’s favorites, but it encourages them to explore a different part of their palate and provides a nice break for their gut.
Have a meal before trick-o-treating. The oldest trick in the books really works. This ensures that your kids aren’t eating candy on an empty stomach, Dr. Navarette explains, “which can help limit how much candy they eat on Halloween night” and gets some nutrients into their stomachs to aid with digestion.
Stay hydrated. Both experts recommend that kids drink lots of water on Halloween, as drinking water can aid in digestion. It’s a good idea to offer them a glass before heading out to trick-o-treat, and give them a bottle to take along for the walk too.
Be aware of your kid’s food allergies. Make sure you (or your child, if they’re older) are monitoring the candy they pick up to ensure they don’t accidentally consume allergens or ingredients that they’re sensitive to.
Relieve stomachaches with water, rest, and a warm compress. If a stomachache has already set in, encourage your child to drink water, rest for a bit, and avoid more sugary treats, Dr. Navarette says. “A warm compress or heating pad placed over the stomach and gentle massage of your child’s stomach can also help relieve symptoms,” she adds. When they feel better, make sure they eat a balanced meal with lots of fiber, like fruits, veggies, and whole grains, to help regulate their digestion. You can also take this opportunity “to teach your child about healthy eating habits and the importance of balancing treats with nutritious foods,” Dr. Navarette says.
To sum it up: to avoid the post-Halloween stomachache, encourage your child to drink water and limit candy intake, and make sure healthy meals are on the menu for the rest of the day. Make sure to talk to your pediatrician if your child experiences severe or persistent stomachaches.
Before you go, shop these products to relieve your child’s cold symptoms:
Leave a Comment