To find out more about an expert’s take on making the most out of Halloween as a family, we spoke with pediatric dietitian and feeding expert Rachel Rothman, MS, RD, CLEC, who is the author of Nutrition in Bloom. According to Rothman, Halloween can be so much fun with kids!

But it’s no secret that when it comes to candy, many parents feel fearful. “But as I explain here, there is no need. It's quite easy to turn candy into something fun,” the pediatric dietitian argues. Her tips are: “create a graph with all the candy they received: did you get more chocolate or chewy fruity candy? Which candy do you have the most of?” Another great tip is to have a candy taste test: “describe the 5 senses while eating candy. Ask, ‘how does it smell/taste/feel/sound/look?’”

Moreover, pumpkins (the staple of Halloween) have so many incredible uses. Some of Rothman’s favorites include: “talk about how pumpkins are grown from just a flower on a vine, and how the pumpkin takes shape in a garden.” Another way to make the best use of pumpkins is to let it rot to talk to kids about decomposition.

“Carve a pumpkin and roast pumpkin seeds, then bake the pumpkin and use the inside to make these chocolate pumpkin muffins, this cheesy pumpkin casserole or even a simple pumpkin butter,” Rothman shared.

Having said that, it’s impossible not to notice that Halloween has become a consumerism-driven celebration. Rothman confirmed that “anyone that lives in the US and shops the month before Halloween knows how insane the options have become: the decorations, the costumes, the candy.”

“Yes, I do think Halloween has become consumerist, but every family has a right to celebrate (or not celebrate) the holiday in whatever way they choose. It is also an opportunity to model the kind of behavior we want kids to adopt, and learn that candy isn't something to be revered or demonized, it's just one of the many forms of food in the world,” the dietician explained.

“For my family, the holiday is about being together as a family and watching my kids light up putting on their costumes,” Rothman shared and added that “this year, it was so much fun to run into schoolmates when we were out trick or treating.”