Tips For Resisting Halloween Candy!
Did you know that Halloween is the 2nd largest candy holiday in the U.S.? (Easter ranks number one!) According to MobileCuisine.com, Americans spend an average of $44 per person, and purchase 600 million pounds of candy for Halloween each year! Youza!!
There are a ton of reasons to avoid candy. It causes weight gain, it’s made of highly refined sugar which is released into the blood stream quickly causing that rapid sugar “high” and subsequent sugar “crash,” and according to the CDC, 1 in 3 Americans are pre-diabetic or diabetic due to diet and lifestyle (which includes candy consumption.)
Candy tastes delicious and feels irresistible. Humans have been hardwired to love sweets since the dawn of time. Sweet fruit and carbohydrates meant energy to survive and procreate. But there’s a difference between fruits and sweet vegetables that helped us to survive, and the current highly refined sugar candy that detracts from our health.
Here are my top 5 strategies for avoiding the Candy Trap this year:
Don’t have even one piece.
You think you can resist, but like the Lays Potato Chip tagline, “You can’t eat just one.” Research shows us that refined sugar is an addictive substance on par with cocaine or heroin. Once you start, it’s very hard to stop. Just don’t go there!
Have a plan for your own “treat.”
No one enjoys feeling deprived. Focus on what you can have, not on what you can’t. Remove yourself from the situation or pick an alternative snack or activity to keep you satisfied, so that the candy bowl isn’t a temptation.
Don’t be a human trash can.
Once trick-or-treating has ended for the night, don’t give in to becoming the receptacle for leftovers. Once you have a little sugar, your body will crave more – which may lead to cravings and snacking the next day.
Donate your leftovers.
This year there’s no office to take your open bags to and there may be fewer places to donate open candy bags to due to Covid restrictions. Make a plan now. Check which organizations in your area are accepting donations, and then drop them off as soon as possible.
Reward yourself.
It’s hard to say no to sweets, especially the first few times you do it! Congratulate yourself for doing something good for your body and keeping a promise to yourself. Reward it with an activity that feels a little decadent – a walk outside, 30 minutes of uninterrupted reading time, or a guilt-free afternoon with a friend. You’ll feel amazing and proud when you realize that you gave yourself a REAL treat.
Have a happy, healthy Halloween!
Xo,
Dianne