Halloween Candy Doesn’t Have to be Scary

Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian

As a dietitian and nutrition coach, I spend a lot of Halloween talking to people about Halloween candy. This year, let’s take some of the fear out of our favourite Halloween sweets, and work towards building a better relationship with food all year long.

When we restrict a food like Halloween candy most of the time, we’re more likely to feel out of control around it when it’s readily available. This often leads to people asking family members to hide the candy from them, or not buying it until the last minute to avoid eating it or craving it just from knowing the candy is in the house. Let’s go over some tips and tricks to help include Halloween candy in a much less scary way.

1. Let go of the guilt around treat foods. This isn’t something we’re going to totally be able to do between now and Halloween. Building a good relationship with food is a long process. A good relationship with food usually means letting go of the labels of “good and bad”. It means being able to eat foods you enjoy in amounts that are satisfying, without beating yourself up. If improving your relationship with food is a long-term goal of yours, it can be worth chatting with a dietitian or therapist about this.

2. Eat the treats you love, leave the rest. This tip isn’t here to limit how much you eat, or to make you think you should only buy candy you don’t like so you won’t eat them. The real reason to eat your favourites is to make sure that you’re enjoying your the eating experience. Unless you really need that sugar boost, seek out the Halloween candies that make you happy.

3. Try to enjoy your treats mindfully. If you are munching away on Halloween candy all day while you’re working, you’re probably barely noticing both the experience of eating, and your body’s hunger and fullness cues. When you’ve got your hands on your favourite treats, take time to just enjoy them. Take time to savour the taste and texture, and fully enjoy it before you reach for the next one. You’ll find you’re much more likely to only eat a satisfying amount, instead of overdoing it and getting a stomachache.

4. Include treats with meals. Have you ever snacked on Halloween candy and then wondered why you were hungry again in five minutes, or struggled through a big sugar crash? Having your Halloween candy as part of balanced meals and snacks can help keep your blood sugars more regular, and help you stay full. Try including a food with some protein (cheese, yogurt, nuts, etc.) as a snack, or having it with a well-balanced meal of carbs, protein, and vegetables.

If you’re looking for more common-sense nutrition advice this spooky season, and all year round, let’s chat! Book your FREE Bite-Sized Nutrition Chat here , or email [email protected] for more info about our Nutrition Programs.