What are some recommendations about eating during Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas?
MN: For Chris’s first Halloween, we looked at our Christmas budget and put some money aside to exchange his Halloween candy for toys. We upped his insulin and allowed him some candy on the holiday. The next day, he got to “cash his candy in” for toys. We allowed him a little candy that day to make it easier to let go. He consumed at least 90 percent less candy and had no problem with it. Thanksgiving is easier because candy is not involved. My kids never like store-bought cranberry sauce, but they love the homemade kind. I make it with freshly pressed apple juice and cider and lots of orange zest. While it’s still up there on the glycemic index, it’s gentler than the stuff filled with sugar and corn syrup. We also do more fresh fruits with desserts and have eliminated white sugar and flour from most of our baking. Christmas is also easier because again, unlike Halloween, candy is not the over-riding theme of the holiday. Stockings get stuffed with small toys, knick-knacks, CDs, and fre
