Written By: Nutrition Coach Mairead
Every year at this time, I talk to people who are stressed about having Halloween candy around, whether it’s at home to give out to trick-or-treaters, candy that kids are bringing home, or just the fact that it’s available almost everywhere.
If you’re feeling like you can’t keep Halloween candy in the house without eating it all in one big swoop, keep reading – this one’s for you!
Everyone likes to talk about studies where rats show signs of being addicted to sugar. The piece that gets lost is that this is only when the rats have been deprived of sugar, and then are given access to it. This result mirrors what happens when we tell ourselves we can never have sugar and restrict it most of the time, and then Halloween happens! While there isn’t a short-term solution to get over this in the next few days, it’s worth thinking about what kind of relationship you want with food and sugar in the long term. (If that idea scares you more than any haunted house, we should talk.)
This doesn’t mean we should eat tons of sugar all the time – you wouldn’t feel very good or really enjoy it if you did!
It does mean we can include small amounts of treats we enjoy regularly as part of a healthy diet, and we might not have the same stress around Halloween treats.
Here’s some other spooky tips to get you through this week:
1. Be picky about what treats you have – pick your favourites! You’re more likely to be satisfied with a favourite candy than with one you don’t really enjoy.
2. Take the time to slow down. Instead of munching on Halloween candy while doing something else, take a minute to savour it. Get away from as many distractions as you can, and really focus on what you’re eating. You’re going to enjoy it way more!
3. Remember that what you do consistently is more important than what happens once in a while. Instead of stressing about the candy you’re eating on one or two days, think about how you could add nutrition to your meals and snacks on a regular basis.
If you’re ready to find out what a healthy balanced diet that works throughout the year (and includes Halloween candy!) could look like for you, let’s chat!
There is currently 1 space available in the On-Going Nutrition Coaching Program, as well as limited Nutrition Consultation slots each week. Email
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