This is Halloween
By: Lissa Hutchings, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
YIKES! Halloween is coming… What do I do?
It is so easy to slip into the mindset that because it’s Halloween with a lot of traditions, we should be able to indulge in those cute tiny innocent looking candies. Um…timeout, let’s think about this. We often tell ourselves; they are fun-sized so it’s no big deal. But wait, they are a big deal and by indulging you can set yourself up for failure.
Halloween isn’t the only holiday that American’s celebrate with candy. We have Valentine’s, Easter, Christmas, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and so on…So how do we cope with this and how do we prepare ourselves for SUCCESS and not failure?
Well, there are several ways that you can make it through each holiday season. Below are some examples of what YOU can do to be SUCCESSFUL during Halloween but can be applied to any other holiday or celebration.
Have Fun!!!
1.) Don’t buy YOUR (once) favorite Halloween candy. Try and buy a candy that isn’t a trigger for you or those that are in your household.
2.) Manage your hunger. Plan meals with food that will keep you satisfied and full, making it less likely that you will gravitate towards the candy bowl.
3.) Don’t go the candy route. Instead, try giving out pencils, stickers, erasers, or even a small snack pack of crackers.
4.) If you do go the route of candy, waiting until the last minute to buy candy. Do you remember buying candy early in the season and then being empty handed the night of Halloween?
5.) I know it sounds odd, but have a PARTY! Have a healthy party for your kids or your friends instead of going out trick-or-treating. Plan cute goodie bags for your guests and serve lots of yummy—yet healthy—treats.
6.) Trick-or-Treating. If you do go trick-or-treating with the kids (bonus exercise), once you get home let the kids pick out a handful of candy for themselves and then donate the rest to your child’s school teacher. Remember, teachers give out a lot of treats during the school year!
7.) Consider dressing up for the day. Shift the focus away from the candy and food. Go out and be seen by all your neighbors and friends, help out at your child’s school or volunteer your time at the homeless shelter.
8.) Mark a date on your calendar that your house will return to a candy free zone. Once that day arrives, toss out all the remaining candy.
9.) Be mindful of the calories, sugar, and fat. Just because they are wrapped in a little fun-sized package doesn’t mean they are freebies. *Approximate values*
*Butterfinger (1 snack size): 100 calories, Milky Way (1 snack size): 90 calories, Almond Joy (1 snack size): 90 calories, Three Musketeers (2 fun size): 140 calories, Hershey Kisses (quantity of 8): 190 calories, Hershey Almond bar (1 snack size): 100 calories, M&M (plain, fun size 1 pack): 100 calories, Snickers (1 fun size): 85 calories, Whoppers (1 snack size): 100 calories, Kit Kat (1 snack size): 120 calories
10.) Movie night! Lastly, if it all is just too much and the temptation is overwhelming, then plan a night for a movie or something away from the Halloween festivities. Just because it is a holiday doesn’t mean you have to participate.
As a bonus, here are some links to some healthy foods, drinks, and treats for this Halloween:
*Everyone is at a different dietary stage, make sure to stick to the stage you are in at the time of the holiday*
- A tasty Halloween themed drink
- Yummy meatball treats
- Bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers
- Yummy cucumber bites
- Broccoli cauliflower cheese sticks
- BLT egg sliders
How are you preparing for your Halloween?
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