Avoiding the Halloween Hangover
My first Halloween memory was at 3 years old when my mother made me a pumpkin costume. My outfit was stuffed with balloons along with green tights and a leaf on my head.
Although it was the ideal Halloween costume, I remember feeling very uncomfortable, since walking around with a diameter three times my body width was a bit more than my young self wanted to handle. I felt a bit like Violet in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory who swelled up like a balloon, and was rolled out of the room.
Combine this image with long-ago homemade treats and candy made with sugar versus modern day candy made with high fructose corn syrup making Halloween more health challenged than ever.
So you don’t end up feeling like my pumpkin costume or Violet with a sugar hangover, here are some suggested tips for treating your health:
- Purchase treats you don’t care for and can easily leave in the basket
- Consider alternatives to candy to give to trick-or-treaters who come to your door such as self contained bags of nuts or pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate or non-food treats items like stickers, small toys, or temporary tattoos
- Treat yourself with a small healthy snack or dinner before your trick-or-treaters ever arrive, to avoid the temptation to munch between door bell rings
- Purchase your treats the day of Halloween and buy just enough so you will not be tempted by leftovers
Remember, Halloween, is the kick off of the holiday season with many treats that lie in store. Think ahead so you can prevent the dreaded New Year’s resolution of needing to lose weight, keeping your health account in the black.
Have a happy healthy Halloween!
This blog was co-written by Susan Dopart and RD Intern Antonella Rica
