MACRO-FRIENDLY HALLOWEEN HACKS
tips & tricks to help you enjoy your nutrition this week
My childhood Halloween memories that stand out most are dumping out my bag of candy and eating myself sick year after year. As I got older, I took the approach of “just don’t have a single piece of candy this year” as a strategy to get through the halloween week without feeling miserable and guilty after.
If you’re like me and have undying love for all forms of candy, Halloween can be a tough holiday to get through without either completely overdoing it or getting grumpy because you’re restricting yourself from treats you love.
But guess what: we don’t have to stay stuck living between All or Nothing.
You can enjoy some candy without derailing your nutrition goals or feeling bad afterward. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy Halloween, whether you’re at a party, trick-or-treating, or navigating office treats.
1 — FIND AND ENJOY YOUR FAVORITES
Rather than cutting out treats entirely, focus on the ones you truly love. Pick a few of your favorite candies and savor them. If there’s a candy that doesn’t really excite you, skip it and save your enjoyment for the ones that do! The key here is mindfulness—indulging in a way that feels satisfying but not overwhelming.
2 — PRE-TRACK YOUR TREATS
Start your Halloween day by picking the candy you want to have and tracking them in your tracking app. Once you have accounted for the candy, work backwards and plan out the rest of your day accordingly. This can help you fill your day with nutrient dense foods that will keep you full while still leaving you with room to enjoy your treats. It will also help you stay accountable to yourself and stick to the treats you have planned out without adding in any last-minute candy.
3 — OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND (OUR ENVIRONMENT MATTERS!)
After the trick-or-treaters are gone, don’t let the leftover candy linger in sight! You can offer it to your last visitor, donate it, or just keep it out of sight. Storing it in a less visible spot, like a high shelf or a pantry cabinet, can help avoid the temptation of grabbing it mindlessly every time you walk into the kitchen. Enjoy those leftover candies, just do so with intention .
4 — HAVE A GAME PLAN & STICK TO IT
Whether you’re going to a party or just handing out candy at home, have a game plan. We don’t need rules or restrictions around candy consumption (restriction never serves us long term). Rather, some planning and intention can help us enjoy candy, treats, and holidays in a way that aligns with our nutrition goals.
If you know there will be extra treats at the office, set some guidelines for how you will navigate your day. That may mean packing your own filling, protein-centered foods for the day and leaving room for a treat. If you have the flexibility to enjoy some office treats, make a plan for how many you will have and try to bring your own alternative treats to share as well. If you’re going to a Halloween party, you may want to opt for enjoying food and drinks instead of candy, knowing it will be more filling and satisfying long term. Make a guideline for yourself to eat seated or from a plate rather than hovering, to bring a bit more mindfulness to your food choices.
The most important thing to remember is to not beat yourself up if things don’t go as planned. We will have many imperfect days, and the best thing to do is to shake it off, drink some water, and make the next day better.
Want to learn more about how you can enjoy the foods you love while still working towards your body composition goals? Learn more about the individualized coaching we offer or apply for a coaching spot here!