Weight gain from Halloween treats may be scarier than the apparitions. Here are tips to stay on track with weight control.
Though the official holiday season may be Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, Halloween is known to kick off the season’s eating frenzy. Halloween candy has a frightening way of lingering like an unwelcome guest, leading some to throw up their hands in despair before Thanksgiving even arrives. Don’t let the holidays be your demise. There are ways to fight off that fearsome holiday weight gain.
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Tips for Weight Control
Whether your goal is weight loss or maintenance, Halloween is the perfect time to undermine even the best efforts. There is no one-size-fits-all for how to battle the temptations. Some buy treats they find unappealing, to eliminate the enticement to indulge. Others plan in advance how to remove candy left after trick-or-treat day, such as donations to a food bank or bringing the leftovers to the office (preferably situating the goodies far from one’s desk).
Beware of plastic pumpkins filled with candy. They seem to sprout up like weeds this time of year. Look away! No, that is not to say weight gain results from some type of optical osmosis, though it often seems that way. However, averting eyes may help to avoid the nagging sense that a pleasurable moment has been missed, albeit short-lived, resulting in a gravitational pull into the kitchen for over-indulgence later.
Master the Art of Halloween Weight Control
There is no need to feel banished from this fun holiday. Barring a medical need to eliminate sugar from your diet entirely, guilty pleasure with control may be best in the long run. Not all treats are unhealthy. Buy yummy stuff to enjoy without remorse and take pleasure when turning away from that candy-filled jar screaming at you, knowing a better treat awaits, at a time of your own choosing.
Rather than a milk chocolate bar, enjoy 1 ounce of dark chocolate with a high percentage of cacao, for antioxidants. Eat half an ounce of whole almonds, for heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, instead of salted mixed nuts. If your preference is sweet and sticky, lose the gummy bears and have ¼ cup of dried fruit, adding fiber to your diet.
Benefit from chocolate covered raisins, for added potassium, rather than M&Ms. If you need a crunch, fat free pretzels may satisfy the craving. Add a few chopped walnuts for Omega 3 or peanuts to raise your HDL (the good cholesterol). Or create a trail mix from all of the above!
Healthy Food on Halloween
Live it up with the delicious healthy food abundant this time of year. Pumpkin is a great source of Vitamin A. Acorn squash provides fiber and potassium. Apples are also a great source of dietary fiber. Maintaining portion control and using common sense will arm you with the ammunition needed to fight off those scary Halloween goodies.
