A Halloween reminder: We are what we eat
Guest Commentary:
Halloween is upon us and with this holiday comes the temptations of candy. Now, if you have children, of course there will be trick or treating and then a large pile of candy. This candy just sits there in its bowl or bag staring at you. “Eat Me!” You might allow yourself to have one piece of candy, but then you grab another and another and another. Do not fall into this trap. Here are some strategies for avoiding the excess sugar and treats this Halloween.
If you plan to hand out candy Halloween night, then sitting around the house with a bowl of your favorite candy in tow is a recipe for disaster. My suggestion is to buy candy that you do not like. I love chocolate, therefore I usually by nerds or a sweet candy because I don’t really care to eat it.
If your workplace has turned into a daily candy jar, I suggest a few solutions to manage your desires. Eat one piece of candy. Yep eat it, but just one. Now don’t just eat it in a mindless passing of a co-worker’s desk. Stop and take a moment to savor it at your desk or after you eat lunch. Think about how good it tastes and also how it makes you feel afterwards. Taking a moment to acknowledge how it made you feel could give you the energy to resist more treats later.
If that jar is still sitting there on a desk or in the break room, ask your co-workers to hide it or if you can place it somewhere else. Out of sight, out of mind. What is fantastic about this is that when you pass by or take a break you do not see the candy, which equals no temptation.
If those do not work and the cravings are building perhaps you are hungry. Truly hungry for real food and the candy is just easy. Take a moment and manage your hunger. Eat real food first. Have healthier meals and snacks available with you all the time: work, home and on the go. That way when your hunger strikes you do not reach for the quick and easy candy. Apples, string cheeses, and nuts are fantastic options and travel well.
Still having trouble? Try chewing gum. That little piece of gum could be just the thing to prevent you from snatching a treat randomly between meals. When I have a nice clean, minty fresh mouth I do not want to ruin it with a Reese’s peanut butter cup.
Now your kids’ candy can be a difficult situation. Of course, the kiddos want to eat it all and in one sitting. Do they really need to eat all of it? Go through the candy with them and pick out the candy they do not want and get rid of it. Give it to another kid who did not get any or very little candy or toss it out. Throwing it away might seem extreme, but if that helps you and your family make healthier decisions then do it.
Think of Halloween as an opening of the flood gates to the holiday season. Stores begin to fill with holiday decorations and ads accumulate in your email inbox with “big deals.” Don’t wait until Thanksgiving to begin thinking of your plan of attack. Creating or changing to a few more healthier eating habits is going to help in prevent you from overeating, indulging too often and leaving you feeling beaten down. Start now and make a plan for how you want to deal with hunger and cravings. As always, enjoy the food you eat; it is fuel for your body and mind. We are what we eat. Literally!
Liz Whalen is a personal trainer and health fitness specialist who lives and works in Libby. She also blogs at lizwhalenhfs.com.