Now that you're shopping for a Thanksgiving turkey, here of some ideas of what to do (and in one case NOT DO) with candy gleaned from trick-or-treating.
Every year Jimmy Kimmel asks parents to tell their children that mom and dad ate all their Halloween candy. Then, people film kids' reactions: crying, tantrums, and jus plain old disappointment. Jimmy's crew pick the most surprising and share them with his viewers.
This year, though, Jimmy Kimmel decided not to do his annual "Candy Prank." He explained that it just seemed too cruel after the tough year that kids have been having. Parents disagreed. Even without him asking, they sent him videos of kids being tricked by their moms and dads.
Perhaps the most surprising reaction of them all is a little girl who gave her father a hug and told him that it was ok. We're betting that she'll work on achieving world peace in the future. Most of the other kids stomped and yelled. They rightfully accuse their parents of being mean. One boy just munched on toast after his father told him that there was no more Halloween candy and handed him the slightly burnt breakfast classic.
To set the record straight, we don't recommend eating all of your kids' Halloween candy or even just telling them that you did. Jimmy hit the nail on the head when he said it seemed cruel in 2020, and actually eating it will just exacerbate the weight problems that most of us have suffered by being under lockdown. Stress eating is a very real thing.
If you are looking for another alternative, you might tell your kids about the Switch Witch as described on her website. The Switch Witch is something like the tooth fairy, but for candy. Kids leave a bucket of candy out for her one night. She comes by and leaves a toy in its place. This was originally a way for parents with diabetic kids to celebrate Halloween, but it's also a great way to tackle child obesity and work towards a healthier lifestyle. Kids can keep a few pieces of their favorite candy, but the Switch Witch takes care of the rest.
Of course this still leaves mom wondering what to do with a bucket of goodies. There are several organizations that accept donated Halloween candy. One of these is called Operation Gratitude. Candy is shared with soldiers in the U.S. Army, both deployed and in training at home. With their training routines, the extra calories shouldn't bother them too much.
Sources: Jimmy Kimmel via YouTube, Operation Gratitude, Switch Witch Website