Peanut butter cups, chocolate bars of all different varieties, fruity rainbows of sugary confections… how do you resist bowls of Halloween candy?
Halloween can be a challenging time for anyone struggling with sugar cravings. Every store displays multiple shelves, if not aisles of Halloween candy, just begging the sugar cravers to buy many assorted bags. Before you throw in the towel and rip open a bag of candy, only to find yourself sitting next to a mound of empty wrappers 30-minutes later, read on for some easy to follow tips.
- Wait till the last minute: don’t buy the candy in August and have it sitting in your house, tempting you. Buy the kind the kids prefer, not what you like. Remember… out of sight, out of mind.
- It’s for the kids: remind yourself that it’s not your candy. You bought it especially for the kids’ trick or treating.
- Enjoy what you love: totally depriving yourself of all candy can lead to more intense craving. Buy a small snack-size package of your very favorite candy to share the festivities with your kids and mindfully eat it without distractions, savoring each bite or each piece.
- Be a good role model: if you have children and they watch you slowly, mindfully eat one piece of candy and be satisfied, they will learn the same. Remember, kids learn what they see, not what we tell them.
- Decide in advance: and discuss with your kids. What will happen with all the candy they receive? Will they eat it all at once; will you dole it out daily or freeze some for later? And remind yourself that it is theirs, not yours.
- Get rid of it: no kids at your house; then take the leftover Halloween candy to work the next day or donate to: Operation Gratitude/ CA Army National Guard, 17330 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91406, Attn: Rich Hernandez (262-674-7281)
Keep this thought in mind too… if you learn how to eat mindfully, no food is good or bad. Nothing is off limits or taboo. There are nutritious foods that fuel our bodies and make us feel great and non-nutritive foods that taste good but do nothing for the efficiency and functioning of our bodies. Give your body mostly nutritious food to feel fabulous and don’t worry about the small percentage of the other stuff. Learning mindful eating can change everything. Enjoy! Happy Halloween…