Ghosts, goblins, witches and many more fang-tastic creatures will soon be haunting your neighborhood for Halloween. While this may be spooky to some, it isn't the most fearsome thing about Oct. 31; too much sugar can be especially frightful! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity has tripled within the last 30 years. There are approximately 12.5 million children and adolescents in the United States who are obese and CDC statistics also show that more than a third of adults are obese as well.

This Halloween is a perfect time to teach your child the importance of maintaining a healthy diet. Halloween is a fun tradition, so by all means, let them go out and enjoy themselves, but decide on a plan in advance. Agree on what size trick-or-treating container they can use this year and allow children a few pieces of their trick-or-treating loot on Halloween night. After the holiday, show them that candy can fit into a balanced diet by allowing the addition of a few pieces for dessert after a wholesome meal that incorporates fruits and vegetables.

For adults, the important thing to remember is moderation! Temptation may occur when seeing your favorite goodies in your child's trick-or-treat bag. A "fun-size" Snickers bar has about 160 calories and 3 grams of saturated fat, which is 50 percent less than a regular-sized bar. In choosing the smaller treats, calories and fat may be limited to an amount that is better for health and wellness. Knowing the nutritional values of your favorite treats can help adults factor a few sweets into their healthy diet, which should also incorporate fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

This year, sweets don't necessarily have to be the "something good to eat" given out to trick-or-treaters. Try giving out granola bars, boxes of raisins, packages of goldfish crackers, or sugar-free gum. Non-food items such as Halloween themed pens, pencils, stickers, temporary tattoos, crayons, coloring pages, chalk or eraser toppers are all alternatives to candy. One of the most popular non-sugary treats are glow bracelets and necklaces. You can also promote exercise by handing out jump ropes or hacky sacks.

Some final tips to enjoy the spirit of Halloween:

• Eat dinner before trick or treating! A nutritious meal beforehand will give your child energy, and keep them full so they don't eat too much of their holiday loot.

• Go with your kids when they go trick-or-treating. Not only will you keep them safe, but both of you will be getting exercise!

• If your children bring in a big load of candy, consider donating a portion of it to a food bank, or take it to a long-term care center to pass out to residents (with permission first!).

By putting just a few of these ideas in action, every-batty will be sure to have a happy and healthy Halloween. For more information about obesity, visit www.cdc.gov. For information about a healthy, balanced diet, visit www.eatright.org.