How to Stay on-Budget with all that Halloween Candy Around


If you’re worried about being surrounded by candy at Halloween, you’re not alone. It’s hard to resist dipping into your kid’s stash or the bowl on the counter, and for many of us, once we start it’s hard to stop. But we’ve got some advice for managing this holiday.
First tip: Don’t beat yourself up. If you’re struggling, give yourself some grace. You aren’t the only one feeling this way.
Personal trainer and owner of Fit Healthy Momma Tami Smith says she often gets asked about maintaining healthy habits, especially around holidays. She has a few tips for getting through Halloween.
Dealing with Cravings
When the candy cravings pop up, Smith suggests getting a little introspective before reaching for a treat.
“First, take some time to consider how you want to feel and then think about the last time that you overindulged in sweets. Did you feel your best physically? Did your workouts suffer? Did that one decision cause you to then throw in the towel on your health plan and fall completely off the wagon? Really dive into your feelings and decide if eating candy will be worth it and if it’s as satisfying as your mind is telling you that it will be,” she says.
“Next, ask yourself why you’re craving that candy. Is it just because it’s there? Try moving it out of sight or leaving the room. Or, do you desire the candy because you truly enjoy it and want to have a piece? If that’s the case, there’s no reason to make it off-limits. Have a piece or two then move on!”
Smith suggests taking a couple pieces and eating them away from the candy bowl. Eating them near the stash might make it difficult to avoid having more than you planned.
What to do With the Candy
If the candy you have is from your kids’ trick-or-treating loot, Smith recommends getting your kids to pick out the candies that they like best.
“All the rest can go in a bag to be tossed or donated at the office lunchroom. Don’t keep it around,” she says. “There’s no need to feel guilty about getting rid of it. Your kids got what they really wanted and you got the rest out of sight and temptation.”
Smith also suggests creating a hard deadline for when the candy is going to the curb, instead of keeping the bowl lingering around for weeks.
If you Overindulge – Show Yourself Some Self Compassion
“Finally, if you did overindulge (it happens to everyone!), give yourself some grace,” says Smith. “It’s not all the time that you have this many sweets around. Acknowledge that you ate more than you wanted and move on. Pay attention to how you feel physically – are you more tired? Did you get a tummy ache? Do you feel emotionally poor? Don’t dwell in your feelings, just acknowledge and move on so that the next time you’ll remember those negative feelings and emotions and choose better.”