TRICKS & TREATS!
This blog presupposes that you have made the decision to stick to your eating plan and goals on Halloween. In previous blogs we have gotten into the concept of making empowered choices, whatever they may be and believe it or not, it is okay to acknowledge that staying on your plan is the healthiest choice for you on a holiday even with a lot of people telling you it’s only one night, or just have a little.
Feel good about the choice you are making for yourself! Today I want to talk about some “Tricks” aka helpful tips and strategies for navigating a holiday so focused on sugar and some ways to “treat” yourself without using food!
The Tricks
Be honest with yourself
Know what temptations you will encounter based on your plans for the evening. Are you a parent taking your kids trick or treating? Are you going to a party at a friend’s house? You know your goals and what fits your plan, so do some thinking on what will test you. Be specific, so that you know how best to take action.
Set your boundaries
This is about the action! What is your plan for the circumstances you will be in for the night? It can feel silly to role play the night in your head before it happens, but it gives you the opportunity to set the right boundaries for yourself and know the correct course of action.
Don’t buy your favorites
Are you staying home to give out candy to trick or treaters? Remember it’s not for you, so don’t set yourself up by buying all of your favorite candies! The trick or treaters will appreciate whatever you’re giving out. And remember that some years you get wiped out and some years you’re left with a full bowl at night’s end. Don’t fill that bowl with the candy/snacks that will tempt you the most.
Don’t go hungry
Whether you’re going out or staying home, don’t head into the evening hungry. Make sure you have you dinner as planned. Sometimes we “hold back” calories “just in case” there will be something keto friendly available but too often this leads to trouble. You may find yourself hungry and stuck somewhere with no good options to manage. A few bites becomes a smorgasbord of treats, and you find yourself facing challenges you had planned to avoid.
Be safe the day after
There can be a few major challenges the days after Halloween! First, leftover candy in the house be it from kids trick or treating, or you bought too much to give out. You know what I am going to say here… have a plan. I am not going to get into what course of action you should take with your kids, because they’re your kids! But know that their candy isn’t your candy! There are a lot of strategies and suggestions out there to help your kids with that overload of sugary treats including trading the candy for a small toy, helping them see the good in donating, etc. In general eftover candy of any kind can often be passed off at work, donated (if unopened), or simply disposed of if needed. Your food safety matters more than the dollars spent. Speaking of spending, Halloween candy will be on sale the day after. If you have a history of driving around to find all the 50% off Reeses cups (don’t laugh, I did it!) then maybe avoid those overloaded stores for a day or two!
Remember that in the end you define your priorities for the night and your choices are yours to make. Don’t let anyone else make you feel bad or guilty for doing the things that you feel are best for you!
The Treats
These ideas can be great ways to give yourself a “treat” without affecting your choices. They can be a great distraction on Halloween night or anytime of the year you need to show yourself care without opening the door to repeating poor cycles of behavior.
Read a new book
Diving into a new book can be a great way to shift your focus from candy to treating your brain!
A scary movie marathon
There are many halloween classics streaming and new scary flicks dropping all of the time. Pick a few favorites or a few you’ve seen recommend and enjoy the trip!
Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in forever
Managing cravings and food challenges can often involve redirecting our minds and focus, and calling a friend to catch up is a great way to do this. You can focus on listening and engaging with them instead of snacking. It is a great way to determine if you are actually hungry or just experiencing a temporary craving.
Start a new journal
I am a huge proponent of journaling and this is a great time to crack open a fresh book and put your thoughts on paper. Halloween could be a great night to refocus your goals and journal a “spooky” prompt like “What are the fears in my life that are keeping me from taking action on my goals?”
A workout & a long hot shower
Don’t just treat your body right by avoiding the foods that will make you feel physically bad, but do something that will actively make you feel great! Plan an evening workout as the gyms will definitely be less crowded and take a nice long hot shower after.
Are these “treats” not up your alley? It’s okay to define your own! What will give you a sense of peace and relaxation when you’re facing an evening that can be stressful when you are struggling with food issues? Only you will know what is right for you!
Need some help navigating the holiday season in general? This is a great time to take action and schedule a call with one of us. The call is free and we might be able to help! Click here to set it up now!
