Halloween Candy & Your Nutrition

How to Avoid a Sugar Crash This Halloween

Halloween is almost here! The first in a long string of winter holidays, Halloween can be tricky to navigate if you’re trying to live a healthy lifestyle. Even if you don’t have kids who are young enough for trick-or-treating, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be handing out treats, attending a friend’s Halloween bash, or just receiving a goodie bag at work… And all of those things mean candy, candy, and more candy.

So how can you stay on your nutrition A-game with bowls full of sweets sitting around your house? 

It’s actually not as tough as you think! The key (as with many things) is in planning ahead to set yourself up for success. Here are a few of my favorite tips for avoiding the post-Halloween sugar hangover:

1. Keep your blood sugar stable from the get-go.
   Dipping blood sugar levels are a big culprit of candy cravings. When we don’t eat balanced meals (protein, fat and carbs), our bodies remind us that we need fuel and we start craving sugar. To curb your cravings and maintain control over your eating, be intentional about really sticking to your PFC Every 3 gameplan in the days around Halloween. If you’re not really hungry, you’re way less likely to absent-mindedly reach for a chocolate bar.
    

2. Give out non-candy treats.
   In past years, I’ve foregone candy completely in favor of other fun treats. Now that my son is 15, he’s totally appalled at the idea of not giving out candy at all… But I still try to give out a combination of some candy, pencils, glowsticks, erasers, stickers, etc. To me, these treats feel a little longer-lasting, and it’s a great way to make sure I don’t end up with extra candy sitting around the house for weeks to come!
    

3. Say, “Good riddance” to extra candy.
   If we do end up with excess candy, I make sure to get rid of it as quickly as possible! My son keeps a few of his favorite pieces, and the rest goes out the door. In the past, we’ve sent it to work or school. You can also gift it to neighborhood kids, pack it into little gift baggies and give it to residents at a local senior center, or donate it to an organization that makes up treat bags for folks serving overseas with the military. 

Do you have your own tips for keeping the Halloween candy at bay? Is there a particular type of candy that really tests your willpower? Share your thoughts in the comments! 

Until next time, I wish you the best and hope your family has a safe, healthy, happy Halloween!