My Halloween Love Affair

I don’t know about you, but I love Halloween: the costumes, the creepiness, and yes… the candy. I admit,I have had a long-standing, passionate love affair with Reeses Peanut Butter Cups… in truth, it’s probably been going on for almost 40 years and if I don’t come clean, it could go on for another 40!

Don’t get me wrong, this is not an ongoing affair. It’s more of a “same time next year” sort of thing, and as our yearly date approaches, I find myself in a bit of a dilemma. It’s not that I still don’t love Reeses (they still makes me swoon), it’s just that I don’t always feel so great after we get together, mostly because I tend to overdo it. I lose control, I become obsessed and I just can’t get enough.

(Sounds more like an infatuation than true love, doesn’t it? Feels great in the short run, but kind of makes me crazy over the long-term!)

And moreover, I end up feeling cranky, bloated, irritable, and full of cravings. Cravings not just for Reese’s, but cravings for all sorts of other things that I don’t normally even think about, much less desire.

If you have been reading my newsletters for a while, you may already know about my weakness for sugar and how it affects me. And I KNOW I’m not alone.

I hear from people every day who have this same sensitivity and who struggle each and every Halloween (and beyond) with overindulging. And here’s the thing: Halloween candy tends to find its way into the mouths of us adults way past Halloween (you know what I mean: reaching into the candy bowls at work or the kids’ bags late at night), contributing to cravings and overindulging on Thanksgiving and into the holidays, our resultant weight gain or poor health (why do you think so many people get sick during the winter months?!), and our subsequent vows to “lose weight” or “get healthy” on January 1st!

So, you see, this is a REAL dilemma. I love having energy. I love feeling fit. I love feeling healthy and strong! (and I hate dieting). And my love affair with this little tiny bit-sized delectable goodie is threatening to cause chaos in my relatively calm existence!!

What’s a person to do? Well, this Halloween, I vow to do something different. I vow to enjoy my passion, but keep it in check, knowing how it wreaks havoc on my body and my mind. Below, I share some of my personal strategies to balance my passionate love for Reeses with my even greater commitment to my health and well-being, as well as some tips I will employ with my children to help them deal with their sweet teeth:

1) Acknowledge ahead of time if Halloween may be a time that you tend to go overboard (and talk with your kids about their tendencies as well, empathizing with the dilemma of yumminess vs. crankiness and illness).

2) If you do have a hard time controlling your sugar intake on Halloween, and if you’d like to avoid that this year, make a decision and commitment to yourself ahead of time that you will do something different this year, as a way to care more deeply for yourself, not out of deprivation. (If you don’t commit to yourself, or you only employ these strategies in a half-hearted way, you can bet they won’t work – that’s called self-sabotage!).

3) Ask yourself, in as honest a way as possible, how many of your particular favorite candy (or candies) your body can actually handle. (It’s a good idea to close your eyes, take a deep breath, and really ask your body. This is not how many your mind thinks you want, but how many your body can handle). (For me, it’s 3 minis, spread apart throughout the night, after a really healthy, filling, satisfying meal. Any fewer and I will long for more, and any more and I will not be able to stop). (Children can do this same exercise)

4) Think about something you LOVE that feels really soothing, delicious and fully NOURISHING. For me, around this time of year, it’s usually butternut squash soup, or roasted winter squash, or sweet potatoes with crème fraiche and a little sea salt. Something hot, a bit sweet and so yummy. Eat this and notice how great it makes your body feel.

5) Consider not making candy the central focus of this holiday. Have fun with decorations, costumes, and pumpkins. Click here for a fun and healthy pumpkin recipe.

6) On Halloween night, use a small container or bag to collect goodies.

7) At the end of the night, sort through. Get rid of the stuff that is purely addictive but not really enjoyable. Toss it (it’s better wasted in the garbage than wasted in your stomach – something my mom always used to say).

8. If you choose to eat your favorite candy enjoy and savor it. Teach your children to do the same. Take small bites and really taste it. Don’t unwrap, shove and swallow instantaneously, or you won’t even notice you’ve eaten it. When we eat slowly and with real pleasure, we are much less likely to overeat. Stay conscious.

9) Do not for a minute feel guilty, no matter how much you end up eating. Guilt does nothing except make you feel badly, which is no good for your health. Instead, tune into your body and recognize how you feel. Use this as an opportunity to gather information about yourself and what works for your body. Continue to notice (rather than judge) what your body really needs to operate at its best, and try to feed it accordingly.

10) The bottom line is, we don’t need to approach this holiday or any with dread, fearing that the food will control us. With planning and awareness, you can enjoy your favorite goodies, while maintaining good health through the season.

Karen Schachter is a licensed clinical social worker and certified health counselor who is committed to helping girls and women find peace, nourishment and well-being with food, eating and in their bodies. To discover how to connect with your daughter and guide her toward healthy eating, a strong self-esteem and a positive body image, visit http://www.dishingwithyourdaughters.com/7-step/.

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