Dr. Josh Klapow, UAB Psychologist
Halloween is a great time for the kids, but it can be a very tough time if you are trying to stick with a diet. The bowl overflowing with delicious treats and the bags of unopened candy just waiting there; the temptation can be very strong. Halloween is really the kick off to the holiday season and the holidays are the perfect excuse to blow it on our diets. Indulgence is great, but so many times that initial indulgence gets us off track.
The key is to have a plan before the candy comes. Saying to yourself that you will rely on willpower is simply setting yourself up for failure. Here are some quick tips that will help:
- Don’t buy the candy too soon. The longer you have candy in the house, the more likely you are to eat it.
- Commit to a limit. Grab a sheet of paper and write down how much candy you are going to allow yourself to eat each day. Post the paper on the refrigerator to remind yourself.
- Consolidate. Once the candy is in house, create one pile for your kids, one for you, one for anyone else in the house, and then get rid of the rest.
- Designate candy time. Decide when you plan to have some candy and maybe treat yourself to an afternoon piece and a piece for desert.
It’s O.K. to indulge during Halloween and with these simple actions the Halloween candy will remain a treat, not a bad trick.
Happy Halloween