Halloween is an exciting time of year, as any holiday is a reason to get festive.  But, it is important to practice healthy habits in order to avoid getting carried away with this holiday’s signature food (candy)! A recent study by Cornell University shows that the extra pounds you put on between Halloween and Christmas can take more than five months to lose.  By following these simple tips, and you’ll be sure to stay on track.

 

Practice Portion Control

With the country’s boom in obesity rates, it is even more necessary to keep calories in check to avoid weight gain.  When you do reach for candy, limit yourself and your kids to 1-2 pieces.  Fun-sized candies are a good choice since they’re smaller and have fewer calories than a larger candy bar.

 

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

On Halloween night, it’s okay to eat a couple small pieces of candy.  This year, encourage your kids to pick out 10 of their favorite candies to keep, and then give away the rest. Many schools now have candy exchanges where students can turn in their extra Halloween candy.  When the candy is out of the house, you and/or your kids can’t be tempted to snack on candy.

 

Eat Before Trick-Or-Treating

On Halloween night, before you go out trick-or-treating, make sure to have a healthy, well-balanced dinner.  A healthy meal high in fiber, protein, and carbohydrates will give you and your kids energy to walk around.  Eating a filling, nutritious meal will decrease the temptation to snack on candy while trick-or-treating.

 

Be An Active Trick-Or-Treater

Make trick-or-treating an active outing.  Stay out for at least an hour and you’ll be sure to burn more calories than you would if you stayed home handing out candy on your porch.  Plan out a route before hand and be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.

 

Ditch the Guilt

If you had a few too many pieces, that’s okay.  Just get right back on track.  Get rid of the mentality that you messed up and failed.  The sooner you get back to healthy eating, the easier it will be to get back on track and your body will thank you in the long run!