Love Halloween candy??? But maybe a little too much??? Like so much so to the point that if you start munching on a snickers bar you might have 7 more???
While I am a BIG proponent of making space in your daily nutrition for sweets & listening to your sweet tooth, you intuitively know that just because it’s Halloween doesn’t mean you need to succumb to the will of your sugar cravings & 7+ bars of candy.
WHY do we feel weak in the knees when it comes to this Halloween candy in the firsts place? Well for starters, it can activate the rewards circuits in the brain that also light up in response to drugs like cocaine… & very similarly, it’s possible to build up a tolerance to & dependence on processed sugar (just like you would cocaine, I know….scary).
It’s the convergence of sugar, fat, & salt in Halloween candies that makes us crazy - the trifecta that really revs up the pleasure systems of eating (vs. eating for physical fuel, need & function). This pleasure & reward system that is stimulated by the Halloween candy you’re overeating, competes with or overrides signals that regulate normal hunger & satiety – leading to the common experience of overeating out of pleasure vs. hunger. & why we can sometimes feel out of control of our eating habits.
7 tips on how to avoid overeating Halloween candy!!!!!
Hold off on buying the candy: buy your candy for trick or treaters as close to the day of as possible to reduce the temptation to take a piece every time you see the bag in your pantry
Buy less candy or simply give out more: eliminate the chance of having leftovers after October 31st why buying less at the store or being extra generous to your trick or treaters that night
Buy the candy you like the least: you’re less likely to overindulge on the pieces of candy that you don’t typically enjoy
Prioritize nutrient dense foods: this is something I recommend doing everyday of the year anyway But particularly if you’re highly tempted by sweets & a susceptible to sugar cravings. These cravings come alive when we have an unbalanced blood sugar throughout the day due to minimal fiber & protein rich foods – prioritize proteins & high fiber foods like starchy & non-starchy veggies
Savor your treats & eating mindfully: when you eat mindlessly it’s easy to eat way more than you intend. So be intentional about the sweet treat you chose to have everyday – select one piece of candy or any other treats you enjoy & savor the heck out of it. That doesn’t mean bring the box or bag with you to the couch, that means taking one serving or piece & walking away to enjoy it
Focus on your sleep: when you experience sleep debt – tiredness & lack of sleep accumulated from a few bad nights of rest, it can increase sugar cravings & need for energy. Rest up!
Be kind to yourself: if you find yourself succumbing to the dark magic of candy & you become ravenous – being loving, kind & gentle rather than shameful, guilty & self-critical. You’re a human & humans aren’t perfect BUT you do have control over your decisions so harness that power & level up next time around!
XO,
Be Well,
Giulia