With the Ontario Medical Association's recently released report showing that the number of overweight Canadian children has climbed from 15 per cent in 1981 to more than 30 per cent today, there is a great need for parents to educate their children to be health-conscious.

Just in time Halloween, Weight Watchers is proud to introduce their Halloween Tips for Healthy eating.

"Healthy habits start when we are young - and children learn through
their parents," says Marquerite Neri, General Manager Southern Ontario, Weight Watchers.

Weight Watchers Halloween Treat Tricks:

Pick treats you won't WOLF down: If chocolate is too tempting, pick your
least favorite type of candy, or hand out non-food items, such as colorful
stickers. Remember, there's no reason to test temptation. Don't buy candy when it hits the store shelves. Halloween isn't until the last day of October.

Look to the JACK-O-LANTERN for recipe inspiration: Seasonal favorites
such as pumpkins, apples, and sweet potatoes are rich in fiber and naturally low in calories.

Move faster than FRANKENSTEIN: Burn extra calories by taking a brisk walk
around the neighborhood to enjoy the cooler weather and Halloween decorations, or by taking your child trick or treating. Wear a pedometer and see how much candy you burn off!

Keep calories in mind while choosing your WITCH's brew: Whether it's a
mug of warm Apple Cider or a Caramel Apple Martini, calories add up quickly. Try a pot of herbal tea and add mulling spices for a filling and flavorful drink with zero calories.

MUMMY's can use the holiday to reinforce good eating habits: Eat before
going out trick-or-treating with the kids. An empty belly and a full bag of Halloween candy is a recipe for disaster. Children and adults should eat a healthy dinner, too, complete with vegetables and high fiber foods before indulging in a Halloween treat. This will help prevent the urge to splurge.

After sorting through the loot and letting children pick a few small Halloween treats, hide away candy to be enjoyed gradually, over time, rather than binge on all of it in a few days.

Use plastic sandwich bags to sort the Halloween bag into single portions:
Break out the candy stash and divide it into piles - chocolate, hard candy, etc - and let the child remove all the items they do not like. Then agree together on what combinations of candy can go into each single-serving bag.

Set a good example by making the house the neighbourhood stop for healthy treats: Hand out popular and nutritious treats such as granola bars, nuts, raisins and bite size bars. Help children distinguish and feel good about "especially good" choices.

PHOTO: Godiva Halloween Treats and Tricks Gift Set, $29 at Godiva.com 

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