Conquering Candy Temptations

Trick or treat, smell my feet! Give me something good to eat. If you don't, I don't care, I'll pull down your underware!

Who doesn't love a good Halloween treat (or 10?) But are those extra candy bars worth it?

In addition to celebrating Halloween on the 31st, my birthday is the week before. If I'm not careful my birthday celebration can turn into a 3 month (because there is Thanksgiving and Christmas of course) splurge. Enjoying Halloween doesn't neccesarily mean I need to throw all of my goals out the window, just means I have to plan for it. Here are some of the goals/rules I have set for myself:

• Don't keep it in the house! Just because you can get candy for such good deals right now, doesn't mean I need to buy it. If it's in the house, I'll be tempted.
• Plan ahead for parties and fill up my plate once. If I eat a healthy meal before the party, I won't be filling up on junk. Then once at the party, I won't just eat mindlessly from the bowl, I'll fill up my plate once and then be done. 
• Don't shop hungry. This is a good general rule of thumb, but especially this time of year. From the Halloween aisle to the bakery, temptations abound. If my stomach is growling, I am much more likely to bring home unhealthy treats.
• Allow for some fun. I love to go Trick-or-Treating with the kids. We have a big (spooky) meal complete with (spooky) music beforehand. Since I won't be snacking on candy bars all month long, I'l be able to guiltlessly enjoy a few of my favorite treats on Halloween night.
• Make a plan. This goes along with the above goal. The idea is, plan for the fun and the plan to get back on track. For me? I'm going to do a cleanse during the first week of November to help get rid of all the yuck.  
• Know what you're eating. Burrying your head in the sand doesn't work. Know what you're eating (calories, fat, sugar). For instance, yesterday I went out to lunch with my mom and sister. I checked the online menu ahead of time and made my choice. Then I wasn't tempted by all the yummy treats (it was a bakery) once I was at the store. I was able to enjoy a nice meal with good friends and meet my goals at the same time.
• Start new each day. Have a bad day? Doesn't mean it has to turn into weeks or months of being "off the wagon." Each day is a new day full of new possibilities!