Healthy Living
4 Tips to Make Halloween Less Scary
There’s a whole lot more to Halloween than costumes and candy! But we all deserve a sweet treat from time to time. Here are four ways to make the holiday less scary and have a healthier Halloween this October 31.
1. Snack Mindfully
It can be incredibly easy to eat sweets and snacks because they’re sitting in front of you, even if it’s something you’re not particularly fond of. Pay attention to what you are eating. Munching while distracted can result in overindulgence, because you aren’t attuned to the quantity or quality of the food being consumed. Be choosey and hold out for the options you like best. Sample your favorite Halloween candies but do so intentionally so that you can enjoy the full sensual experience. Avoid eating in front of the TV or the computer to savor it without distraction.
2. Support Spooktacular Events
October brings about lots of outdoor activities from apple orchards and corn mazes to pumpkin patches and haunted houses so there are plenty of reasons to get exercise and fresh air! Whether you’re throwing an adult costume party for friends or entertaining kids, emphasize fun instead of food by organizing some interactive Halloween activities and games like apple bobbing, a mummy wrap relay or broomstick races in the backyard. Physical activity that gets people up on their feet and moving around means more incidental activity points to add to your weekly allowance. Plus, you can also get in a lot of steps while walking door-to-door around your neighborhood while the kids trick-or-treat.
3. Maintain Mood Awareness
When you’re hungry and blood sugar levels have dropped it’s natural that your body craves sweets as they’re the best option for quickly and efficiently raising glucose levels. But sugar cravings can also be a reaction to changes in hormone activity, specifically serotonin and leptin, which can cause you to seek out sweets and other treats when your mood is low which is also known as comfort eating. If you frequently find yourself craving sugar as a response to stress it may be beneficial to record these events and your feelings at the time to recognize patterns in your eating habits. Grab some fruit and yogurt or cottage cheese, your blood sugar levels will be restored and will stay elevated for a longer time than if you’d only eaten the Halloween candy.
4. Mix and Match
The Halloween season only comes once a year, including the fun-sized treats which are so much a part of the trick or treating tradition. It may seem counterintuitive, but eating a healthy snack alongside a sweet treat does a great job in preventing an overindulgence in junk food. Try eating complementary foods that contain a filling combination of protein and fat, such as a serving of nuts or an ounce of hard cheese, both of which pair well with chocolate. Or try eating a salad or ZeroPoint® soup about half an hour before enjoying something from the Halloween stash.
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