Here’s a hot new Halloween trend that has critics seriously spooked.
Parents across America are partaking in “switch witch” — a seemingly harmless practice that encourages their kids to trade cavity-causing trick-or-treat candy for toys.
The point is to discourage excess sugar intake amid high rates of childhood obesity and the potential health hazards of some sweets.
But now, one naysaying nutritionist is speaking out, warning well-meaning moms and dads that their concern may be doing their offspring more harm than good.
“We need to take a less restrictive approach and focus more on [developing] a healthy relationship with food,” Arizona child nutritionist Dr. Taylor Arnold declared in a recent video on social media denouncing the trend.
While the exact origins of the practice are unknown, author Audrey R. Kinsman published the picture book “The Switch Witch and the Magic of Switchcraft” back in 2015, revolving around a good witch who visits homes to take candy in exchange for clothing, books and toys.
In recent years, a growing number of parents have begun implementing the practice into their Halloween routines, with TikTok and other social media platforms helping the idea to become a full-blown phenomenon — just in time for another round of trick-or-treating.
Earlier this month, Utah fitness influencers Emily and Levi Jensen went viral on Instagram, clocking up 755,000 likes with a video explaining how their two-year-old daughter Aria receives a visit from a switch witch after procuring her Halloween haul.
“Trick or treating is fun, but kids don’t really need all that candy,” dad Levi declares in the clip. “Our daughter goes out and has a blast trick or treating. When she gets home she gets to pick out five of her favorite pieces of candy to keep.”
“She leaves the rest of her candy in her basket and leaves it on the front porch,” he continues. “During the night, the switch witch comes to collect the candy and leaves a gift in return. Our daughter is now just as excited for the switch witch to come as she is for trick or treating. “
“This has been a great way to cut back on candy, but still enjoy Halloween,” Levi concludes.
Dozens of viewers left comments praising the switch witch idea, with one saying detractors don’t know the damage candy can do.
“Do they know how long it takes for our tiny children to process all of that sugar?” the supporter stated. “Do they know most of that candy is genetically modified and full of food dyes? I’m not strict about much, but there are things we as parents can do to help our children have healthy bodies.”
“I love this idea!” a second fan fawned. “I have a toddler and he doesn’t need candy, but I want him to experience going out and trick-or-treating. I don’t eat candy and he doesn’t need more than five pieces at TWO years old! What a cute tradition to start!”
On TikTok, mom Kristyn Cole clocked up more than 2 million views with a similar video explaining how she’s started the switch witch practice with her children.
While some parents expressed enthusiasm, describing it as “cute” and “super smart,” others hit out at her.
“This sounds like diet culture and restriction. How is your relationship with food?” one critic crudely interjected.
“Are you that one house that passes out pencils, toothbrushes and carrot sticks?” another mocked, implying that Cole was a strict parent and a party-pooper.
In her viral video responding directly to Cole, nutritionist Dr. Arnold expressed skepticism about the phenomenon.
She urged parents to focus on developing balanced and holistic eating habits with their children, rather than trying to cut candy consumption completely.
“There’s something counterintuitive about food parenting and feeding our kids sugar,” Arnold admitted.”But overly restricting certain food items can increase seeking behaviors for that food.”
“Really restrictive food parent approaches increase the likelihood that your kid is going to sneak or horde that food,” she continued. “By taking away their candy, maybe we’re increasing the food sneaking.”
But, as Cole told her followers in a spirited clapback of her own, she never forced her kids to give up their candy, and that there are ways for any parent to give the trend a try, without turning the whole thing into an annual tug of war.
“Some of y’all are reading way too deep into this. You give your kids the OPTION. They can choose to keep all of their candy or exchange most of it,” she declared, saying the practice could be tailored to suit a family’s needs.
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