There’s no doubt about it, surviving a holiday weekend where the main focus is candy can be quite intimidating for someone like me. I am a chocolate lover. I usually always have some dark chocolate stashed somewhere no one else knows of. I use moderation, but there are always those moments when it calls my name and I don’t ignore it. I’m also a skittles lover, a sixlets lover, a tootsie roll lover – well, let’s be honest, I am a candy lover.  I said it.

If I am not careful a weekend full of Halloween parades, parties, and trick-or-treating can completely derail my nutrition plan. Sometimes I don’t even realize how much I’ve eaten until I feel awful at the end of the night….  a couple pieces at home, a couple at the parade, a few during trick-or-treating – before you know it I’ve consumed enough calories with all of my “treats” that I needed for an entire day!

So I plan ahead, I do my best, and I regroup afterwards.

I hope some of these tips will help you get through the weekend without too many tricks!

1. Be a NINJA!  Fight those temptations by allowing yourself a couple treats.  Yep, you heard correctly.  I am suggesting that you have a couple treats!  Moderation is the key with our nutrition so allowing yourself a couple small treats over the Halloween weekend will curb that sweet tooth and prevent you from completely sabotaging all of your hard work on several big time binges.
2. Get your workout in early! Don’t wait on it, you most likely won’t feel like working out later, so get your sweat on early and burn up some calories.  Working off one snickers is not an easy task!
3. Choose healthier options to pass out to trick-or-treaters. How often do you come home with your kids with a mound of junk to sort through? Half of it we usually toss.  Parents appreciate small bags of pretzels or fish crackers, (although not completely healthy they are better options than sugary candy) glow sticks, fun stickers or tattoos, small tubes of toothpaste, etc. Be creative!
4. Planning is key – you will most likely be on the run for Halloween parades, parties, and trick-or-treating. Eat healthy all day long and plan for the evening by filling up on your Shakeology or other healthy foods prior to leaving your home. Take a few healthy snacks with you to avoid feeling hungry and dipping into your kid’s bag while cruising through the neighborhood!
5. Drink a lot of water! Often times water makes us feel full and reduces our craving.  Remember to drink half your body weight in ounces of water EACH day!
6. Choose a few pieces of candy to keep for your kids for the following week and then donate the rest of the candy or toss it in the trash! Check out my cousin’s awesome candy buy back program on Facebook, Schuchert’s Orthodontist, or at  http://www.schuchertortho.com – OR donate your candy to a local food bank or homeless shelter.  (thanks friends for that suggestion)  If a huge bowl of candy is lingering on your counter for 2 weeks after Halloween you will continue to eat it.  Get rid of it!!!!

BE SAFE- and BE SCARED of those treats…. they really will TRICK you!