Key points

Kids prefer sweetness more than adults, but research shows sugar isn't addictive like drugs or alcohol.

Constipation and energy crashes are common effects of too much candy, not the hyperactivity parents fear.

Sneaking behavior and binge eating at parties signal that your candy rules are too restrictive for your child.

Every October, parents suddenly find themselves fighting with their kids about candy rules. While parents worry about Halloween candy hurting their kids' health, the real problem isn't what happens when you eat too much candy. It's the fights that rip through families faster than kids can open a "Fun Size" Snickers.

We worry about what too much sugar does to our kids' bodies, while our kids only see us being "mean" or "unfair." We want to keep them safe, but

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