Healthy Halloween: Tips for Enjoying Treats Without the Guilt

You may have a lot of fun dressing up for Halloween, but the real treat is the treats. It’s hard to resist the bowls of candy at the office, the bank, and the local sandwich shop — and the bags of sweets your kids bring home after trick-or-treating.

You don’t have to set up plans for how you’re going to avoid all temptation. You can enjoy Halloween treats without the guilt when you keep some helpful tips in mind.

At A&U Family Medicine in Sugar Land, Texas, Dr. Hammad Zaidi takes a proactive and realistic approach to health and wellness. We know the holiday season is filled with temptations, but it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. 

Make a plan

Halloween is the start of the holiday season, which is a time filled with friends, family, fun, and feasts. It’s also stressful. 

Think about past holiday seasons and the things that made you happy and those that brought on unnecessary stress. Then, set intentions for how you want this holiday season to go and make a realistic plan for how you’re going to navigate the months ahead.

For Halloween, you could offer to bring in healthy treats for the office to offset the many sweets available or suggest other ways to celebrate the season, like a pumpkin carving contest. 

Don’t forget to eat

We know you want to save room for Halloween goodies. But skipping meals may backfire, leading to intense hunger and overeating unhealthy foods.

Instead, eat your regular, balanced meals, giving your body the nutrition it needs to keep hunger and cravings at bay. A balanced meal should feature healthy carbs (whole grains, fruits, vegetables), lean proteins (fish, eggs, poultry, beans, lean meat), and healthy fats (nuts, seeds, avocados, vegetable oils).

Enjoy eating your treats

Mindful eating allows you to enjoy food without guilt. Instead of mindlessly rushing through and eating gobs of Halloween treats, take a few pieces and sit at the table to eat each piece without distractions. Let yourself live in the moment and enjoy the sweet.

Food serves many purposes, benefitting your physical and emotional well-being. You shouldn’t feel bad for eating what makes you happy. Eating mindfully teaches you how to be more present during meal times so you can enjoy the food for its intended purpose, whether it’s nutrition or comfort. 

Forgive yourself for overindulging

You may overindulge. Even if you follow all the rules above and strive for moderation, you may eat more treats than you planned — and that’s OK. Forgive yourself and move on every time.

Feeling bad about eating leads to a cycle of guilt and shame. If food is your way of coping with negative feelings, you may turn to food and overindulge, perpetuating the cycle. Forgiving yourself eliminates the guilt and shame, putting you back in control.

It’s OK to enjoy Halloween and the sweet treats that come with it, but remember treats shouldn’t replace nutritious meals. Make a plan, eat your healthy meals, and allow yourself to partake in a few treats without distractions.

If you’re having a hard time coming up with a plan for how to handle food this holiday season, the team at A&U Family Medicine can help. Call our office or book an appointment online today.