There are solutions for adults and kids alike for having a healthy-ish Halloween while keeping it fun and delicious. Below are some tips to avoid sugar crashes, sugar rushes, and calm sugar cravings without having to completely cut out the sugar. Halloween is one night a year. Remember that this one night will not destroy you or your children if you continue back onto your healthy 80/20 (80% clean eating, 20% free eating) lifestyle come November. Our favorite tips:
BREAKFAST.
Don't start celebrating too soon with pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin spiced French toast with pumpkin lattes. Instead, DO set your day by eating a breakfast with proteins, complex carbs, fiber-rich foods, and healthy fats to maintain balanced blood sugar and minimize cravings.
DRINK WATER.
Remembering to drink water (with electrolytes for bonus points) throughout the day is one way to help reduce cravings and keep ourselves and our kiddos hydrated.
MOVE.
Walk! Move! Dance! Play games! Burn those extra calories and set our kids up for success by giving them an outlet for that sugar rush.
EAT DINNER.
Remember to feed your family a well-balanced dinner prior to trick-or-treating. This will prevent candy from substituting dinner as well as prevent overeating of treats.
YOUR PARTY SPREAD.
If you're not having regular sit-down dinner, display the healthy foods. Opt to use smaller plates rather than large ones to promote smaller portions. Make yourself work to get another serving!
SERVE.
Bring out the healthy snacks first and the sugar later. Serve your littles the sweet treats. Don't leave it out for them to grab and consume freely. And choose fun size - like mini-cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and muffins.
HEALTHY IDEAS.
Pack your party table with proteins, fats, and complex carbs to balance out the sugar. Think cheese, yogurt, nuts, fruit with nut butter, veggies and cream cheese, deviled eggs, deli meats, olives, seed crackers, chips and guac, and dark chocolate covered fruit and nuts.
PUMPKIN.
Eat it! Pumpkin is incredibly healthy for you, and rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and as well, is an immune booster. You can make pumpkin bread, pumpkin smoothies, you name it! A Google search will give you plenty of healthy ideas. Pumpkin seeds are also delicious and nutritious, being a good source of unsaturated fats, protein, and zinc.
CANDY.
Don't restrict yourself so hard that you'll be sad and full of FOMO. Have that piece of candy. But don't eat so much of it that it makes you sad and sick with a sugar hangover the next day. Set a limit. Try to choose candy that contains fats and are not purely sugar.
YUCK.
Buy candy you don't like so you won't be tempted to eat it.
Make sure you put your kiddos candy bag away when they hit the hay. Out of sight, out of mind, and you get to choose when they're allowed to have it and how much.
TEACHING OPPORTUNITY.
Use Halloween as a way to show our kids what moderation is all about, and how an overall healthy diet doesn't have to be completely exclusive. Have a Happy (and Healthy) Halloween!
