How to stay Healthy During the Halloween Season

I know Halloween has come and past and maybe some of you had a hard time  watching  what you ate.  Your will power was running on over drive.  

 Did you know, that according to health experts, it takes just 100 extra calories per day or equivalent of one chocolate bar to experience significant weight gain within a short period of time.   Now how it that for scary. 

Below are six good ways to avoid temptations during the Halloween season. Some of these simple Halloween tips can help you avoid temptation and combat the inevitable extra calorie intake. Try a few or try them all, but don’t get discouraged and definitely, even if you slip up a little, don’t give up. 

1. Buy Candy You Hate -  This is my favorite.   When the candy in your home is one that  you don’t like, it will be easier to resist the temptation. If you don’t like it, you hopefully won’t eat it… or at least won’t eat a lot of it.  As an example, I do not like coconut, so I buy Mounds.   Moreover, if you want a healthy Halloween, you should try giving out pretzels, fruit snacks, granola bars, or other more health conscious options. This not only helps you, but your family too!   
2. Keep Candy Out of Sight –  Plain and simple, out of sight out of mind. If you do want candy in the house, or you just aren’t the only purchaser in your home - keep the candy out of sight.  The less you see it, the less likely you are to just grab a piece on the go and eat it.  Even just a few small pieces can really add up! 
3. Chew Gum - Sugarless chewing gum can provide your mouth with a sweet sensation without adding a ton of calories. According to studies, chewing gum can also relieve stress, and help you focus on various tasks. Most importantly, it will help you get past the urge to eat sugary snacks. 
4. Keep the Wrappers – Keeping the wrappers over the course of a week will help keep you accountable for what you have eaten. Count the empty wrappers every day to remind you of what you have consumed and to motivate you to keep your candy consumption to a minimum. 
5. Exercise for a Few Extra Minutes or Add in an Extra Workout with a Friend – Everyone has 5 extra minutes to add to their routine and those 5 minutes really do add up! Also, the buddy system is one of the most effective ways to workout regularly as it becomes more enjoyable and you have another person to hold you accountable to your goals. 
6. Involve Your Family – Halloween is a family oriented holiday and your family is probably consuming some extra snacks during this time too. Get them active with you to help burn off the extra calories!  Go apple picking, pumpkin patch picking, or even just take a nature walk to see the foliage.  Make sure to follow the “Safety Tips for Walking the Fall” we posted last week! 

Hopefully you will remember a few of these tips and employ them next year during the Halloween season or also use them during any time of year and there are extra treats in your house.

As always I would love to hear from you.  Tell me what you do to try and  avoid eating all those those extra treats