26. Trick, Treat, and Try Not to Freak Out

This week, I’m diving into Halloween for families — the excitement, the lollies, and all the mixed feelings in between. From managing sugar fears to handling trick-or-treat chaos, I’m sharing a practical, evidence-based approach to help you enjoy the night without stress.

Whether you’re a Halloween enthusiast or a self-confessed Halloween Grinch, this episode will help you find balance between fun and food — and teach your kids to do the same.

Listen in and discover:

● Why sugar highs aren’t real (and what’s really happening)

● How to help kids enjoy lollies without guilt or restriction

● What to do before trick-or-treating to avoid overwhelm

● The difference between managing food and managing fear

● How to ditch “Switch Witch” thinking and build food trust instead

● Why letting go of control helps kids self-regulate better

● Practical tips for handling safety, choking hazards, and boundaries

● How to make Halloween fun — even if you don’t love it yourself



Mentioned in this episode:

• Mealtimes Membership – live Q&A sessions, personalised support and access to all content
• Wender EH, Solanto MV. Effects of sugar on aggressive and inattentive behavior in children with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity and normal children. (1991). Pediatrics, 88(5), 960-6.
• Kanarek RB. Does sucrose or aspartame cause hyperactivity in children? (1994). Nutrition Reviews, 52(5), 173-5. DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.1994.tb01415.x.
• Farsad-Naeimi A, Asjodi F, Omidian M, Askari M, Nouri M, Pizarro AB, Daneshzad E. (2020). Sugar consumption, sugar sweetened beverages and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 53, 102512. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102512.

Connect with me (Dr Kyla) on Instagram and Facebook!

Do you want to easily understand what’s in the food you buy without any fear mongering or misinformation? Check out my weekly Chewsday Reviews.

Join my online membership programs today! Baby Mealtimes for parents introducing solids, Toddler Mealtimes to navigate fussy eating, Family Mealtimes for guidance when packing school lunches and feeding the whole family, or School Mealtimes to change the way we talk about food in schools.