Halloween is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate. Being a part of the Latin community, we celebrate Día de Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. Sugar skull cookies, lots of music, and the respect of our deceased loved ones brings the family together. But there is just one thing on my mind: when we go trick or treating, are we getting treats, or really getting tricked?
Let me explain: Everyone loves to go door to door to see who can get the most candy bars, or who can get the biggest piece of chocolate, but what about our health? That’s right; trick or treating is becoming more dangerous as the years go on, and we are all still asking why.
In the latest news, there are little pills that look like candy for kids but are fentanyl. Not only that, but some people even put razor blades or glass in pieces of the candy and seal the wrapper back up. Why? Who knows, but our health as a community is at risk and action must be taken.
It is not just the drugs and sharp objects in the candy that we need to worry about, but the candy itself. Some parents will let their kids eat the entire bag of candy they received on Halloween night. Not only is this bad for your digestive system, but it is also bad for your teeth, your heart, your blood pressure, and much more.
In general, everyone, no matter their age, should limit their intake of candy. Of course, it may seem difficult, because who doesn’t love the sweet taste of a Hershey’s bar or even the chewiness of Twizzlers? However, we could have less health conditions from what we are putting in our body. Not just Halloween, but other major holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving.
I remember when I was younger, after collecting my goods, I could only eat a certain amount of candy each day. As I got older, it was up to me. Why is that? Do parents just believe we can make our decisions at the age of 14 or 15? The younger generations will never understand true punishment like it used to be. They also don’t mature until later in life. I remember being very mature, around 6 and 7 years old. Now a days, the younger generations have no respect for the simplest things.
Parents and guardians, please watch out for any suspicious candy that kids may have in their hands. Check for pasted back together wrappers, numbers engraved on what looks like candy, and so on.
Happy Halloween! I hope everyone has a safe holiday.
HCXO, Ace