Doc: Don't worry about Halloween candy, worry about diet

Doc: Don't worry about Halloween candy, worry about diet »Play Video

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SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- A week from tonight, kids will be running from house to house in a mad dash for candy.

Health officials say the average plastic pumpkin full of candy runs about 10,000 calories.

Some parents say they monitor their kids' candy, letting them have a piece or two here and there.Most said they would never dream of letting their children have as much as they want.

Pediatrician Bruce Strimling says that in the grand scheme of things, one night really won't make that much of a difference.

"In a parent who's responsible and offers their child a good diet, the fact that they're going to pig out once night a year is just not going to have that adverse an effect on them," he said.

He believes that's healthier than parceling it out over time because it means teeth are only exposed to sugar like that once.

"From a dental standpoint, they're probably better off just eating it all that night and being done with it, brushing their teeth and they're done," said Dr. Strimling.

What Dr. Strimling says really matters is a child's diet throughout the entire year. If it's bad, all this candy is really just more of the same.