Coach Mindy’s Guide to a Healthy Halloween

Monday, Oct 25, 2021 | Featured, Lifestyle

Hi all! Coach Mindy here!

Happy Halloweek!! This is always such a fun time of year. Although, I think it goes without saying that this is one of the most difficult times of year for a successful weight loss journey. As a certified Health, Nutrition, and Weight Loss coach, I often get asked how to combat all the Halloween treats that can derail our weight loss efforts. Here are my 3 steps to have a Healthy Halloween.

Be Mindful About Your Treats

If you’ve read my blog post “The Psychology of Weight Loss”, then you already know how important it is to allow yourself some treats every once in a while. So, in order to tame your inner elephant, allow yourself to indulge in your favorite treats. Plastic, candy filled pumpkins left over from a night of trick or treating can be a big temptation. In order to indulge guilt free, ration out what you plan to eat. Decide WHEN you are going to have your treats and figure out the bites for each serving and pre-log it into your tracker. This way it’s already worked into your daily bite/calorie budget. When it comes time to eat your treats, take the time to enjoy them.

Find a quiet spot, free from distractions and slowly unwrap your treat. Take some deep breaths and observe how the treat smells. Take a bite and just hold it in your mouth a bit, allowing yourself to savor the flavors. Chew slowly and deliberately, pausing between bites. Doing this allows yourself to comprehend and appreciate this indulgence.

Eliminate Temptation

Aside from allowing ourselves some occasional treats, we also have to exercise moderation. Halloween can really strain our resolve sometimes because we are constantly exposed to common triggers. When buying candy to pass out, purchase treats you don’t enjoy. This will help you resist the temptation of dipping your hand in the candy bowl. Trick or Treat candy being brought into the home can present other challenges as well.

Substitute Healthier Snacks

There are no rules stating Halloween has to involve unhealthy treats. If you’re going to a Halloween party, or hosting one, ensure that there are healthy choices to choose from. There are plenty of spooky and fun healthy recipes online. You can provide some clementines dressed up like little pumpkins, ghost bananas, or scary mouths made with apples and nut butter. Also, a Halloween Charcuterie board filled with yummy, nutritious snacks is another great way to keep the Halloween spirit alive without loading up on sugar. Over the next week, Healthi will be sharing tons of fun substitutes for Halloween treats. Well… tricks for treats, actually!

As you can see, having a healthy Halloween can be a breeze if you plan appropriately. Having strategies in place is essential to sticking to your plan. It’s also important to remember that it is still only one day. If, by chance, your efforts are not as successful as you’d like, show yourself grace and try not to feel guilty. This mindset can be detrimental to our self efficacy. A positive mindset and belief in ourselves is so important for long-term success. Keep in mind, what matters most is not what you do SOME of the time, it’s what you do MOST of the time.

Happy Halloween, friends!