Five Strategies for a Happy and Healthy Halloween

Posted October 28, 2023 | Uncategorized

By: Jen Orleow, MS, CN

Halloween can be a stressful time for parents between finding the perfect costume, classroom parties, decorating and worrying about all that candy that your little ghost or goblin will gobble up once trick-or-treat rolls around. As a nutritionist, I’m often asked what the best strategies are for managing the sugar highs and lows that come along with this sweet holiday. Afterall, Halloween is one of the true joys of childhood and kids should be able to participate in a way that enables them to feel like they are part of their community, while building lasting memories that they take with them into adulthood. Here are some strategies to help keep your sanity while also using this holiday as a time to teach your child about building healthy relationships with food.

Don’t trick-or-treat on empty!
Before heading out to trick-or-treat, offer a hearty meal or snack with a healthy balance of carbohydrates, fat, and protein. A chili or a soup is a great idea and something that can be easily prepped and prepared the night before or during the day in a crockpot. Ensuring that your child won’t be loading up on candy on an empty stomach is one way to keep them from overeating sweets and experiencing a serious spike in blood sugar.

Bring a smaller bucket.
If you want to control the amount of candy your child eats, one strategy is to limit how much they can collect. Choosing a smaller bucket or container ensures that they can’t get more candy than you feel comfortable with.

Set a time limit.
Another strategy is to set a timer and limit the amount of time they are out knocking door-to-door. This way they get to participate but you are still able to limit the amount of loot they bring home.

Establish clear boundaries.
Plan your strategy for how you want to handle Halloween candy before the big day and establish clear rules with your child. Renowned Dietician Ellyn Satter says that children who are exposed to candy and treat foods as a normal part of their diet are less likely to overdo it on sweets than those who are raised to view sugar as taboo.
Perhaps you allow your child to eat unlimited amounts the first night, and then store the candy out of sight and let them have a few pieces each day as part of their lunch or snack. Or you can predetermine how many pieces they are allowed to have the first night based on their age. For example, 3 pieces for a 3-year-old. or 4 pieces for a 4-year-old. Set the rest aside to be packed with lunch or as an after-dinner dessert. Another idea is to have your child sort their candy into two piles, one to keep and one to give away. Whatever strategy you choose, treating candy and sugar the same as other foods teaches your child to regulate their intake and removes some of the allure of candy if they otherwise perceive it as “off limits”.

Don’t worry!
While it can be hard as a parent to see your child eating foods you may not normally like them to have, remember that it’s only one day and that one day of excess is unlikely to ruin their long-term health. If they do happen to overdo it, use it as an opportunity to teach them about eating mindfully and hopefully that lesson will carry over the next time trick-or-treat rolls around. Instead of hyper focusing on candy, remind kids of other aspects of this holiday that make it fun and memorable, such as gathering with friends, dressing up, getting out in the neighborhood and enjoying the festivities. This way, Halloween will be an enjoyable experience for adults and kids alike.

Cold & Flu Season: How Can Homeopathy Help?

Posted October 27, 2023 | Uncategorized

By: Haridevi Kasia Hanaj, ND

As we say goodbye to summer, we are met by the crisp season of fall with the knowing that the Seattle winter rain is around the corner which also means that cold and flu season is approaching. Homeopathy can be a tool to help keep the body more resilient from viruses and disease. In cases where a sickness develops, homeopathy can be used to help your body recover faster and return back to a state a health and vitality.

What is homeopathy?

Homeopathy is based on the principles of “like cures like” using ultra high dilutions of natural substances. Homeopathic remedies are created by diluting a substance to the point where no physical substance is left in the remedy and only the energetic signature remains. This energetic signature mirrors a cluster of symptoms that people can experience which is based on the principles of “like cures like”. This principle, also known as similimum, suggests that which causes symptoms at a crude dose will help resolve those same symptoms in a homeopathic preparation. This type of homeopathic prescribing is called constitutional homeopathy, where an in-depth interview is completed with a homeopath to determine the best fitting remedy that covers a person’s experience on the physical, mental, and emotional level. Constitutional remedies will stimulate a body’s vital force making the individual more resilient to stress and sickness. Many individuals when taking their constitutional remedy will feel more joyful, peaceful, and unbothered by usual stressors.

In acute illness, we can use these same homeopathic prescribing techniques to zero in on symptoms that the person is experiencing. There is more emphasis on the symptoms caused by the acute illness and less consideration is placed on the chronic symptoms. This type of acute remedy prescribing can create a speedy recovery from an illness. If the correct remedy is chosen, symptoms can start improving within the hour of taking the remedy. Below are some common cold and flu remedies and the symptoms that they cover.

Belladonna: Acute fevers that typically cause flushing in the face. Sleep is usually restless and there will be sensitivity to light and sound. This is also a great remedy for sore throat that is red and inflamed.

Aconite: Sudden onset of fever with frequent sneezing and pain in the root of the nose. An individual will usually develop these symptoms if they have been exposed to sudden cold air.

Oscillococcinum: Great remedy for the initial onset of “flu-like” symptoms such as fever and body aches and one of the few homeopathic remedies that can be used prophylactically against the flu.

Bryonia: Main symptom is a cough that is dry and so painful the child will hug their chest during coughing episode. Symptoms are worse with movement and child will be irritable. Usually a high fever occurs in conjunction with symptoms.

Arsenicum Album: Weakness with flu like symptoms with severe chilliness and desire for warmth and watery discharges from the nose. The child will be restless and anxious.

Eupatorium perfoliatum: Flu with characteristic of deep bone pain as if bones are bruised. Child will toss and turn in bed from pain.

Pulsatilla: Great for later stages of colds where there are nasal discharges that are a distinctive yellow/green color. The child will usually be clinging to parents and behaviors will be weepy/whinny.

Homeopathy can serve as a support in a wide range of scenarios and help your family traverse the Seattle cold months.

This information is meant to be used for educational purpose only and not taken as medical advice. Always consult a professionally trained homeopath or medical care provider for the treatment of any illness.

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    5350 Tallman Ave NW, Suite #510
    Seattle, WA 98107
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    fax: 206-525-3273

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