Halloween: All Tricks No Treats

Halloween used to seem so cute and harmless, didn’t it? I mean, who didn’t love getting all dressed up in costumes and having people give them sugary treats. Fast forward to today and realize that October 31 can be the undoing of weeks of food tracking and exercising. Why? Well, because suddenly that trigger food of yours ― chocolate ― is everywhere. Even though you are good about keeping it out of your sight most of the time, when Halloween comes around you suddenly find yourself buying two or three bags of fattening “fun-size” bars or sugar-coated snacks “for the kids.” Come November 1, guess who is the one snacking on the remaining ones you didn’t give out ― or worse eating the new junk your kids gathered from around the neighborhood? That’s right, YOU! Don’t undo all of the hard work you’ve done by thinking you’ll just eat one or two pieces. Trust me, those “fun-size” bars aren’t so much fun when you’ve scarfed down five of them at 150 to 200 calories each. Steer clear of even bringing the candy into the house or buy candy you personally dislike. Even better, give out boxes of raisins or pretzels instead of candy bars. And after you sort through your kids’ treats bags ask them to keep them out of your sight. Better yet, have them pick a small number of their favorite snacks and then explain to them why you are throwing the rest of that garbage into the garbage.