A few tips to get through this candy coated holiday season...

The healthy lifestyle gets easier when you start cooking from home more often and become adjusted and knowledgable to the foods you can and cannot eat. The pounds melt away and you just feel better overall. While it does get easier, there are times when it is a bit of a struggle, such as when holidays roll around. How frustrating these times can be when you know you have been doing so well with your newfound lifestyle.  Hopefully these tips will help you get through this Halloween and to still continue to feel amazing.

​Go to a Halloween Event
Instead of trick-or-treating with the kids on Halloween night, consider going to an event. There might be a family-friendly Halloween party you can go to that will have approved snacks, or you can go to your church or to a fall festival that will have more activities and less emphasis on all the candy and sweets. The ‘trick’ here is to celebrate Halloween in a way that is fun for everyone, but doesn’t rely so much on just the candy.
Don’t Buy Candy You Like
When it comes to handing out candy, this can often be your downfall. You are staying home on Halloween, carving pumpkins, watching scary movies, and probably handing out candy to the neighborhood kids. Most parents won’t let their kids have homemade treats since it is too dangerous, so you really can only give either small toys (which get pricey) or candy. If you decide on packaged candy, choose candy you know kids enjoy, but that aren’t your favorite. This really decreases the risk of you being tempted by it.
Eat a Healthy Meal Before the Halloween Event
While many Halloween parties do have fruits and veggies or other food options you can enjoy while living your healthy lifestyle, there is no guarantee. So that you don’t eat chips and dip just because there isn’t anything else and you’re starving, eat before you leave the house. Have a healthy Halloween meal before heading out, then you will be much less inclined to have a non-healthy appetizer due to being hungry.
Get Rid of Candy Immediately After Halloween
If you had candy in the house from Halloween, whether from handing it out to the kids in the neighborhood or from your kids’ trick-or-treat bags, get rid of it after Halloween is over. Especially the stuff they picked up that you love! Have your kids create treat bags to give to their teachers at school as a thank-you, or bring it to your work and leave it in the break room for others to enjoy. 

All this said, please allow yourself to have a little something if you really want to and you know it won't throw you completely off track.  Just take your time, savor the taste and enjoy the moment.  Don't beat yourself up about it, you can and will continue to make good choices.  It's not a step backwards, it is just a moment in a holiday that is a lot of fun!

XOXO Jules