Ready…set…go! The holiday season is almost in full swing and it all begins with that most dreadful and sinfully delightful of holidays, Halloween. No, it may not be as gluttonous as the other two but it still poses a dietary danger due to the shear concentration of its candied calories. Learning how to best avoid those sweet temptations is important because it sets the tone for the rest of your holidays and gives you some positive momentum going into the big game later in the season. The following tips should give you just the edge you need when the sound of sweet seduction finds its way to you…
- Avoid hunger to avoid cravings. Probably the easiest way to avoid putting candy in your mouth in the first place is to avoid getting hungry. When your feel hunger it may already be too late! By that time your blood sugar has dipped and your body is naturally sending signals to your brain to find more calories. Sugar is the quickest and most concentrated source of calories and your body knows it. That is why you crave sugary foods so much when you are hungry or stressed. Keep a healthy snack on your or eat more frequent, smaller meals throughout the day to keep yourself from giving in!
- Substitute your sweets. If your sweet tooth is just too powerful to resist, make sure the sweets you are eating are the healthy kind. Look for sweets that at least have some kind of nutritional benefit such as granola for fiber, dark chocolate for antioxidants and magnesium, fruit snacks for a variety of phytochemicals, etc… That way if you find yourself in a weak position it won’t be a total loss.
- Train your brain. Half of the battle against the sugary invasion takes place in your mind. There are several tricks that you can use to turn the tide on temptation but my go-to is to say “I don’t want it” versus “I can’t have it”. Saying that you don’t want it takes all of the power in the situation and gives it to you. Try it out this Halloween and see how easy it is.
- Give it ALL away. If there isn’t candy in the house, you can’t very well eat it can you? Another great tip to avoid that butter finger bite is to wait until the big day to buy the candy and then make sure you give it all away.
- Chew gum. Gum is a great trick when it comes to avoiding temptation. Not only do you get a small dose of sweet, you also get to continually chew which satisfies craving centers in your brain. Keep a pack or two on you on the big day.
- Walk with your kids. There’s no need to drive when you could get a little exercise! Walking with your kids not only enhances the experience of going from house to house and seeing all of those great costumes, but you also get the added benefit of burning calories! That way if you do indulge a little it won’t be that big of a deal. It also keeps you out of the house which is where the candy lives!
Making the most out of your holiday season with as little guilt as possible all starts in October. Nobody can do it for you but with these six tricks you should be well on your way to a successful and happy end to 2017. Don’t forget that swimsuit season is soon to follow!
