Tips for a happy healthy Halloween
Let’s face it: Halloween is basically the best holiday.
You get to play dress-up. People give you candy for no reason. And you are not obligated to buy presents for anyone. Also, adorable little toddlers dressed as jack-o-lanterns and ladybugs show up at your house, and seriously, who doesn’t love seeing that?
It’s also a dangerous time for those of us who are trying to limit sugar or practice mindful eating. So, with that in mind, here are 3 ways to stay strong this Halloween.
1. Buy the crap candy
To make sure that you don’t eat all of the trick-or-treat candy yourself, buy the candy that you don’t care for. For me, that would be Heath bars, black licorice, and Almond Joys.
2. Have a healthy dinner
Include lots of veggies, whole grains, and lean meats. The more satisfied you are with dinner, the less likely you will be to overindulge on sweet treats.
3. Set a limit for your kids and stick to it yourself
That’s to set a good example. 1-2 pieces of candy per day is enough. Encourage your kids (and yourself too) to pair their daily allotment of candy with a healthy snack like a glass of milk, a piece of fruit, or veggies and hummus. Eat the healthy snack first to fill you up a bit before you enjoy your treats.
If, despite your best efforts, you accidentally eat too much candy (seriously, who hasn’t done this?) just forgive yourself and move on. Don’t try to punish yourself by working too hard in your workouts the next day. Don’t mentally beat yourself up. Do get a good night’s sleep, drink a ton of water the next day, and get back to normal life.
Final Takeaway:
Halloween marks 2 months til the end of the year. This is not the time to give up and eat all the candy because “…Thanksgiving, then Christmas and then I’ll start over again in January with my resolutions.”
Keep working hard, staying strong, and forging ahead towards those goals. Don’t give up.
