How To Handle Halloween

It can certainly be a challenge to keep candy consumption to a minimum this time of year. It usually ends up that we start snacking on fun size Snickers and mini packets of M&M’s here and there, not realizing that we’ve turned candy-eating into a regular habit. Not to mention, because we’re mostly noshing on “fun-sized” treats, we tend to brush them off as inconsequential, although “fun-sized,” many have quite a few more calories than we probably realize, which, is not fun with regards to your waist line.

One of the best ways to keep your health and fitness goals on track is to simply gain a better understanding of exactly how much you’re eating. For that, read our 2021 blog post Exercise Equivalents of Halloween Candy…And It’s Scary.

Halloween and the weeks after don’t need to be spent shamefully eating minis while hiding in a dark closet alone! Below are a few ideas you can do to help navigate the spooky candy-laden waters so you can enjoy the month of November.

1) Save the wrappers. Put ALL of the candy wrappers you eat into a clear jar. A visual image of how much candy you've had could make a big difference and be an eye opener to how much sugar you're really eating. When you throw away the wrapper you may forget that it even happened and continue to eat more (out of sight, out of mind). 

2) Compare it to Exercise. How many calories are in the piece of candy you want to eat? What's the workout equivalent it would take to burn that amount of calories?  Five Mini Reeses is 220 calories is a 15 minute run. Two Mini Butterfingers is 170 calories, which is close to 50 burpees. 

3) Accountability. We're much more likely to let ourselves off the hook when no one else is counting on us. So to stay committed by making a pact with a buddy that limits the amount of candy you’ll both eat. The person with the least amount of wrappers in the jar will “win.”

4) Take pictures of all your food before you eat it and send it to your buddy. Being honest to yourself and committed to your agreement, you're not going to send a picture of a huge bag of Reeses minis.

5) Eat a replica. Whatever the thing is that you like to eat at Halloween, find something else that tastes like it that's healthier. Of course the taste of sugar is good, but also the texture of the food also may draw you to it. Want Mounds bars? Eat coconut and almonds. The coconut and almond crunch together gives you the same feeling. Reese's? Get real peanut butter and a piece of dark chocolate. You get the idea.

6) Post your intentions and get family and friend support on Facebook, Instagram, a sign on your office fridge, anywhere! People love to help others. Allow someone to help you stay accountable. Be brave. Get yourself out there, make it known that you're on a mission and ask for help staying accountable to it. If someone you asked to help you saw you in a trance and grabbing the Swedish Fish, they'd be there to help redirect you and pull you back! They'd also get to feel good about helping.

7) Forgive yourself. Having a piece of candy isn't the worst thing in the world. If you have a piece, enjoy it and then let it go. There's no need to start self-loathing or shaming over Baby Ruth bars.

Please know that we’re not here to rain on anyone’s candy parade; enjoy some of the scary good sweet stuff…just keep moderation in mind. And if you do overindulge in the sugary sweet, try adding a few extra minutes to your workout for a week or two; it’s not a good idea to try and burn off all the candy calories from Halloween in one workout or even in one day. For other great ideas on how to handle Halloween, click the button below for a complimentary assessment with a certified Success Studio personal trainer.