26 Oct Guilt Is Not an Ingredient in Any Foods – How to Navigate Halloween Candy

It’s that time of year where we are marketed at with “guilt free” or “shame free” options. Implying that certain foods should make us feel guilty for eating them and therefore we are bad because we ate them.

THIS is what is destroying your relationship with foods and making you feel out of control when you do have fun foods.

Don’t get me wrong, I love creating lighter options of heavier meals or baked goods. There are great ways to do this. But replacing real foods with “diet foods” that are stripped of their nutrients and then added sugar to replace fat or vice versa are not going to improve your relationship with food or help you lose weight for good.

In my nutrition coaching program we focus on learning how to create satisfying meals that make you FEEL good, while including the fun foods you love in a realistic way.

Remember, candy is sold YEAR ROUND in the grocery store. Halloween is not your only opportunity to eat candy. Pies, cakes and cookies are always available at the store even outside the Holidays.

Once you release this idea that you have to completely restrict these foods or only eat them on designated days, you can break free from this prison.

You no longer need to over eat them because they loose their alluring power!!

I absolutely love when my nutrition coaching clients tell me they are able to eat foods they use to over eat or feel “addicted to” in a realistic, confident way.

Having a piece of cake at a birthday party

Enjoying a fresh baked cookie

Going out for ice cream and getting a small cone

AND being satisfied with a reasonable portion of these foods
These highly palatable foods or really delicious tasting foods, start to loose their strong taste after the first 3-5 bites! Seriously slow down while eating one of these “feared” foods and genuinely savor each bite.

As humans we want what we can’t have. It’s human psychology. Release the restriction and toxic words from your vocabulary. You are not bad because of what you eat. 

You are pretty fabulous for many reasons and none of it has to do with your diet or what you do or don’t eat.

Decide what foods are really worth it to you. Look forward to them!
Enjoy them!

Move On.

Surround them with balanced satisfying meals, water, sleep and movement you enjoy.
I know this may seem impossible to even fathom. 

But I have come to this place through lots of work and so are my nutrition coaching inner circle rockstars!

It’s the best moment when my clients tell me,

“I no longer fear gaining weight during the Holidays.”

“I know I can have pizza with my family and not worry about it spiraling into poor choices.”

“I can have Halloween candy in the house and not feel like I have to eat all of the Reese’s in one sitting.”
I want this for you too!

Tops Tips for Navigating the Candy and Treats

Plan it into your day

Choose a piece of your favorite mini candy and have it After your meal.

Have a balanced meal including a complex carb source, protein, healthy fat and some color from fruit or veggies. You will be much less likely to overeat the candy if you are not jumping into the candy bowl Hungry!

Don’t restrict Yourself

Telling yourself you can’t have any candy is only going to make you want it more. Will power only lasts so long. If you genuinely enjoy candy, choose a few mini candy’s and incorporate them into your day.

Put the candy in it’s home

Set up Your Environment for Success. If there’s a bowl of candy sitting on the kitchen table everyday it is going to be WAY harder to resist grabbing a piece every time you are in the kitchen. Put the candy bag in the cabinet or pantry. Alternatively if you have a bowl of fruit sitting on the counter you will be more likely to reach for that!

Release the power over this food

Remember, candy is available YEAR round. This is not the only day you are able to eat it. Enjoy some candy if you truly value that, and build it into your day without it rippling into less supportive habits. You did not ruin anything by having a few pieces of candy.

Get enough SLEEP

When you are over tired, you are much more likely to reach for the sugar as a quick energy source. Get to bed at a reasonable time and get enough sleep. Adequate sleep and rest helps with appetite regulation, managing cravings and better capacity to make supportive choices.

After Halloween places you can donate your extra candy to

Operation gratitude 

This group sends care packages to US troops stationed overseas and first responders stateside. It encourages kids to include letters and pictures. Drop off locations are on the organization’s website.

Soldier’s Angels

Similar to operation gratitude on a smaller scale

Operation shoebox

Any Soldier

Halloween Candy Buyback Program

Participating dentists will accept candy donations in exchange for a small reward for the kids; toothbrushes, coupons, sometimes cash.

Ronald McDonald House Charities

Operation Stars and Stripes
Supports veterans at home and abroad. Shipping to the organization’s headquarters in Georgia.

Local soup kitchens, homeless shelters, food pantry, nursing homes for residents and staff.

Your kids can deliver with a note and smile 🙂 

Turn candy into science projects, recipes and experiments

Leave skittles in water and see what happens

“Mommy’s Store” use candy as currency for toys or something special. Donate the rest.

“Switch Witch” a witch comes at night to switch the candy with a toy – great for young kids.

Pack the candy into a pinata or make goodie bags for your child’s upcoming birthday party.

Put the bright candy in a storage container to use for gingerbread houses.

Set aside 24 pieces of candy for Duck Tape Calendar – Christmas countdown.

Have a great time and just keep moving forward with with habits that support you!

XO,

Jennie