Don’t Let Halloween Haunt You: Easy tricks to enjoy your favorite treats this Halloween
It’s that time of year again! It’s that official season when brightly colored, individually wrapped candies start showing up everywhere you look. There are bowls haunting the breakroom at work, the kids bring them home from their activities and you can’t step foot in any store without variety bags of all your favorite goodies taunting you from the shelves. Contrary to what you may believe, there is no need to go “candy-free” when enjoying this holiday. Here’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts from a personal trainer and nutritionist in Westfield, NJ for this Halloween season that’ll help you enjoy your favorite treats, without ruining your progress!
Do: Set rules that work for you.
There is no one candy rule that works for everyone. If one candy per day sends you spiraling into a candy binge, try giving yourself a maximum number of candies you’re allowed each week, put them into a small baggie and once the baggie is empty, there’s no more candy until the start of a new week. Creating your own rules forces you to analyze your own habits/triggers to find a rule you can adhere to without feeling deprived. Get creative!
Don’t: Choose a candy simply because it has less sugar or fat than another.
Remember, you’re not eating candy because of its health benefits. Choosing the gummy bears because they don’t have fat, vs. the chocolate that does, is meaningless. It’s not “better for you”. Extra calories, be it from sugar, fat or protein, will turn into fat regardless. So, eat the candy you actually want so you’re satisfied the first time. Only eat the candy you truly enjoy. (that’s just good nutritionist advice!)
Do: Leave the candy wrappers in front of you.
Visual cues are very powerful. If you can see how many you’ve eaten, you’ll be less likely to keep eating beyond your allotted amount. So, as you eat those candies, keep the wrappers somewhere you can see them until you’re done. (That’s a personal trainer approved tip!)
Don’t: Eat candy mindlessly.
If you do indulge in Halloween candy, do it with purpose. Limit distractions and pay attention to your treat. Pay attention to the flavor and texture in your mouth. Close your eyes and savor it. When it’s gone, don’t rush to open another. Set a timer and wait a few minutes before opening another one. When you’re paying attention to what you’re eating, you’re less likely to overindulge.
Don’t: Eat candy when you’re hungry.
Candy is a treat, not a meal substitute. If you indulge while you’re hungry, you’re going to wind up eating far more than you would’ve otherwise.
Do: Keep up with your normal meal routine.
It’s imperative you follow a normal, healthy day of eating during this time of year. Don’t try to “save up” calories in order to indulge more later. Like we mentioned earlier, eating candy when you’re hungry is only going to result in overeating. Don’t deprive your body of nutrients it needs from other, healthier foods in an attempt to stay within a specific number of calories for the day. Load up on those healthy proteins, fats and carbohydrates and be sure to eat a balanced meal BEFORE going trick or treating!
Do: Wait until the last minute to buy candy.
How often are you encouraged to wait until the last minute to do anything? But that’s exactly what we’re telling you to do! The longer you have candy lying around your house, the harder it is to curb your cravings to eat it. If you’re buying bags of candy to hand out to the neighborhood kids, wait until the day before trick-or-treating to buy it. Less time in your house, means less opportunities to eat it!
Do: Give the candy a deadline.
Plan on having all candy out of the house by a specific date. Set a notification in your calendar. This isn’t a challenge to try and eat every last morsel before that date. It’s simply a tactic to put a time limit on the added temptation in your home. If you can’t stomach the idea of throwing the candy away, check your local dentist office, many pediatric dentists collect candy and donate it for care packages to our troops.
Halloween doesn’t need to spook you off course. As you can see here, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this time of year without letting it derail your progress. Happy Haunting!
Yours in Health,
Nancy
Personal Trainer and Nutritionist, Westfield, NJ
Out Run Your Fork Personal Training and Nutrition
PS If you need help getting ready for the holidays without all of the holiday wight gain, then find out more about how our Nutrition Plans could work for you
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