Parents are being advised to plan ahead before heading out trick or treating tonight for Halloween.
Safefood Ireland is offering practical advice to ensure that the event causes no adverse affects.
The advice is to have a meal before going out and to agree in advance on the number of treats children are allowed to eat on the night.
Parents are advised to save some of the treats for future occasions.
Consideration should also be given to providing some other form of treat such as stickers or small toys rather than sweets with the suggestion that parents in an area might collaborate on a wider range of treats than edibles only.
Parents area also advised to check the items gathered in case of any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard sweets or very small toys.
Dr Aileen McGloin, Director of Nutrition with safefood continued “Hallowe’en has a special place in our culture and traditions, but excessive amounts of treats weren’t part of this until recent years.
Parents know Hallowe’en is all part of growing up and can make for wonderful memories for kids, but they’ve also told us it’s a special night for children that should be celebrated and enjoyed, but in a more balanced way. While parents agree that children should be allowed to have treats for Halloween, the excessive promotion all around them is challenging.
Even so, parents recognise their responsibility to try to ensure their children eat Hallowe’en treats in moderation, and that they should keep an eye on what’s being eaten.
Parents also told us that putting the focus on other elements of the celebrations such as dressing up or playing games helps to take the focus off trick or treating and food, more towards what it used to be like when we were kids.
“Advice on managing treats and healthy eating for families is available on the safefood.net website.
