Halloween candy is super easy to get addicted to and it takes so much time to get over. I have a huge candy jug on my desk and everyone is totally surprised that I don’t dive into it every day. It has taken me a while to find my willpower but it is there. Lurking under the protective layer of blubber that is my body. Hahahahaha
Lately ALL I want is chocolate! I never thought that I was a “craving” person but I WANT IT! The Choc Zero sugar free, keto, dark chocolate sea salt bark. Mmmmm. Mmmmmm. Reeses PB cups and York Peppermint candies. (Sugar free of course!) and keto ice cream sundaes. OH MY. BRB I need a snack!
I know for sure that NO ONE, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE wants cuties or small snack bags of trail mix for their halloween treats. NO ONE. But how to you keep yourself from diving into the entire bag of halloween candy and devouring it over a night of wine and Sex and the City reruns?
How to kick the candy cravings to the curb
Here are some suggestions for kicking the cravings. When you are hungry, Eat a satisfying meal. Not a snack and not “filler” a true protein fueled meal. Be sure to drink a glass of water. Maybe two. It fills up your tummy!
Next do something distracting like call a friend or clean something around the house. It kills two birds with one stone. You get something done and you avoid those full size candy bars calling to you from above the fridge.
If you decide to eat, choose to eat a piece of fruit. It has natural sugars but at least is healthier than Mr. Goodbar. Try apples, oranges or bananas. Maybe add some peanut butter to it as well for some protein and make sure you are getting all your nutrients you need daily by taking a multivitamin. It helps with overall health and cravings.
Avoid artificial sweeteners. They can trigger those cravings.
Eat protein. As someone who eats a ketogenic diet this is a huge one. Protein is filling and helps me kick any cravings of being hungry.
Kick stress to the curb. When you are stressed you are in fight or flight and it’s hard to stay on task in multiple areas of your life.
Don’t skip meals. Keeping your tummy and your brain full is a great way to kick any cravings. Especially halloween candy. Lol
Get a goodnight sleep. Sleep has healing properties both physical and mental. Sleeping lets your body recover from the day’s events and puts you in a better place the next day. Being in a good mood will help you combat cravings etc…
Get together a support team. Let your friends and family know you are trying to kick the halloween candy bucket. Tell them what you need from them support wise to be successful. When you say it out loud in front of other people you are more likely to stick with it because you are being held accountable to not only yourself but others around you.
Exercise; Another 2 fold success! You kick the cravings and you get your heart rate up, produce hormones that make you happy and you get in a good sweat! This can be as easy as taking a walk or as intense as a peloton workout. (I hear it is, I have never seen or tried one of these machines of miracles lol)
Avoid your triggers. If you KNOW you will eat the chips and salsa at the Mexican restaurant tell them not to bring them to your table or hit up a chinese or other restaurant that does not offer a snack at your table. Avoid certain streets that have your favorite ice cream shop or drive thru daiquiri bar. (Yes, in Texas this is a thing)
Make a list of WHY you are doing this and post it somewhere where you can see it. Refer to it when you feel like slipping. I had hung a favorite pair of jean shorts that I couldn’t fit into anymore in my closet. Every day I saw them and reminded myself about why I wanted to get into shape.
It takes about three weeks to build a habit and about three months to change that habit into a lifestyle change. This won’t work overnight. It will take time and dedication. You can do it!
How A Switch Witch Handles Halloween Candy
I’m adding a link to this site because I think this woman has some great ideas. I can’t say I agree with number one about ignoring Halloween altogether. Because Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday of the entire year however I get the concept.
Her idea about the switch witch, or Halloween fairy is also super brilliant!
“Opinions differ on whether or not receiving a mountain of candy in one night provides a natural opportunity to learn self-control. I’m all for kids having these life lessons, but I’m a big believer in giving kids choices within certain boundaries set by the parent.
Hence my love for Montessori where the Candy Fairy or Switch Witch, take your choice, visits our house after trick-or-treating and the kids don’t seem to
mind a bit. We switch out the majority of the candy for a fun grab bag of treats. Since they come from our home, this also gives me the chance to throw some tasty edibles from better sources.”
Some of her halloween candy alternative suggestions include:
Organic Juice Boxes – i know most families avoid juice boxes, but that’s why they’re a special treat! “A consumable Halloween treat that is practical. After walking around the neighborhood, kids may be thirsty. It still has sugar, but it makes a great treat.”
Natural Fruit Leather – “In my opinion these taste way better than artificially flavored fruit candies! Buy them in bulk for the best price. I’ve seen them at Costco for a good price, or they’re available from Thrive Market or Amazon for a good price.”
Local Honey Sticks – “My oldest son brought home a bunch of these from a beekeepers’ meeting one time and they were an instant hit with his siblings. Ideally find some from a local beekeeper, or order online. These are still a sweet treat, but the beneficial properties in honey make it a healthier alternative to candy.”
Pumpkin Oranges – “Feeling crafty? Get some organic oranges and use a natural marker to draw some pumpkin faces on the peel. This is probably best for a group of friends or close-knit neighborhood where people trust an unwrapped offering.”
Instead of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, try Unreal Mini Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Instead of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, try Wholesome Surf Sweets Organic Jelly Beans
Instead of Hershey’s Kisses, try Enjoy Life Foods Halloween Chocolate Minis
Some other options – Babybel cheese rounds, Packs of nuts, Trail Mix/Chex Mix, Granola bars, Mini box of raisins, Cuties or clementines!
Maybe Don’t Do The Candy Thing At All
I also love the fact that she came up with a list of alternatives to giving out candy at all. I can totally see some of these dropping into a couple of Halloween buckets and really surprising some kids with something different.
Try a few of these; glider airplanes from the dollar store, stamps or sticker sheets, fidget toys, slinkins, small play doh containers, bouncy balls, baby flashlights, fake mustaches, bubbles, mini notebooks, cool pens or smencils (smelly pencils) glow sticks, lego men, spider rings and slap bracelets are a good start with fresh ideas instead of halloween candy.
First and foremost enjoy the holiday! And in my family we didn’t buy candy year-round so my mom didn’t mind so much if we had a little basket sitting around and typically we were only allowed to have one piece a day or sometimes only one on the weekends.
So start off with everything in moderation. But if you’re really trying to kick the habit cutting yourself stop cold turkey and not allowing yourself to cheat for the first couple weeks is probably going to be important
Happy Halloween y’all!