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(Bellingham, WA) - Halloween is a fun and exciting time for ghosts and goblins old and young - the costumes, the parties, and... the candy! It's true that candy is a central part of the Halloween tradition, and little ones everywhere would be devastated if the sweet treats were removed from this spooky celebration. But the scary part for parents is thinking about what all that extra sugar does to kids' health - not to mention their teeth!

Fortunately, Halloween can be just as fun without the sugar-fuelled temper tantrums, or an emergency trip to the dentist. By using the simple strategies below suggested by dietitian Gloria Tsang, founder of online nutrition community HealthCastle.com, you can make Halloween a whole lot healthier - and teach your kids some important lessons at the same time.

- Screen treats for safety and health: You already remove and discard anything that's not properly wrapped. Take the opportunity during your sort to pull out the worst trick-or-treat offenders: fried chips, sticky candies that are hardest on teeth, and anything containing hydrogenated shortening or oil.

- Share or donate: Cut your child's candy consumption by encouraging them to donate a portion of their candy to the food bank, or share with family members. They can feel like they're taking positive action, rather than being deprived.

- Split and save: It's tempting to gorge on a huge pile of treats. Teach your kids how to make good things last by splitting their haul into several smaller portions stored in ziplock bags. Each week, they'll have a whole new supply of candy to enjoy.

- Trade up: Set up a trading station with some of your kids' favorite healthy treats, like dried fruit, packaged fruit bowls, or good-quality dark chocolate squares (at least 60% cocoa). Encourage them to trade-in their least-favorite candies for healthy treats they know they love.

Perhaps the most important tip of all is to just relax. Yes, your children will eat more candy than usual during the Halloween holiday (you probably will too!). But by following the tips above, you can minimize the nutritional and dental impact of all that extra sugar.

Never try to fool your kids - they're smarter than you think. Explain to them what you're doing, and how they benefit (tip: "the candy will last longer" is a better benefit than "it's healthier this way"), and your whole family should have one sweet Halloween.

More healthy eating tips from registered dietitians, including strategies for getting your kids to eat healthy, are available at www.HealthCastle.com.

About HealthCastle.com: HealthCastle.com is the most comprehensive nutrition community run by Registered Dietitians on the web. The dietitians at HealthCastle.com have been sharing their passion for nutrition and health since 1997. For fun and practical healthy eating tips, exclusive nutrition guides, and nutrition podcasts, visit www.HealthCastle.com.

To speak with Gloria Tsang or to arrange an interview, please contact Tracey Johnston at .