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Don’t get us wrong: your #TRN team loves a little spooky season treat or two, but we also want to keep our wellness goals on track. Check out our top tips for spooky splurging while maintaining balance.
Don’t Go Hungry
It can be tempting to skip a meal or two to save room for a night of sugary snacks, but this could lead to overdoing it later. Eat a full, balanced meal before a night of trick-or-treating, partying, or other ghoulish activity of choice. Doing this will build a buffer against overindulgence, add some balance to your blood sugar, and hopefully keep sugar crashes or hangovers at bay.
And don’t forget to stay hydrated throughout the festivities, too! Save room for water—or an electrolyte beverage if you’re active—between rounds of witches’ brew.
Pace Yourself
Consider spacing out your sugar consumption throughout the evening rather than a single large splurge at the end of the night, which could cause a steeper blood sugar spike. Also, consider lollipops or other long-lasting treats to slow down consumption and curb overindulgence naturally.
Mix Up Your Goodies and Giveaways
Planning party favors or handing out goodies to trick-or-treaters? It doesn’t have to be an all-candy mix. Include some popular sugar-free snack treats like Goldfish crackers, popcorn, or pretzels. You can also throw non-edible treats like stickers, bubbles, friendship bracelets, or small toys.
Bonus: keeping some non-edible giveaways on hand will ensure trick-or-treaters with dietary restrictions can still participate and feel included in the fun!
Keep an Eye on the Ingredients
While we’re on the subject of dietary restrictions, don’t forget to keep track of any food allergies or sensitivities while you’re at a party or trick-or-treating with the kids. The holidays often bring out a wider selection of candies and homemade treats than we might typically eat, so take the extra time to find out if certain dishes contain ingredients you or a loved one may need to avoid.
Processed foods with nutrition labels are a little more straightforward, but it’s also helpful for parents to teach kiddos with food allergies to check out allergen listings before snacking. It’s okay to be excited about all the tasty treats up for grabs, but don’t forget to practice food safety and keep necessary items like inhalers or epi-pens on hand in case of an emergency away from home.
Helpful Healthy Halloween Hosting
Additionally, if you’re hosting a party or giving away some homemade goodies, it wouldn’t hurt to provide an easy-to-read list of common allergens included in the dish that might not be evident at first glance, like nuts or dairy.
For more information on how to offer fun and allergen-free treat alternatives, check out the Teal Pumpkin Project.
It Doesn’t Have to be All or Nothing
Just because you’re on a wellness journey doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of all treats. Aiming for complete deprivation could have the opposite effect of triggering increased cravings or indulgence later.
And if you do make a mistake or overindulge, focus on adding more balance later, like increasing your protein intake or rounding out the festivities with some whole foods to stave off a crash.
Have a happy and healthy Halloween!
Got a topic you want to discuss or contribute? Share your story with our #TRN expert: jo@trustedreferral.org
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