Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love decorating our house, planning costumes and handing out candy to all the excited kids at the door. However, like many holidays, Halloween can also be a stressful. All of the junk food and candy everywhere can be anxiety provoking. Candy seems to linger around for days or weeks just begging to be eaten. What’s a healthy, fitness minded girl to do? Today I offer you a few Halloween “Lifesavers” and healthy tips for a stress free holiday?
Halloween Lifesavers
Buy candy at the last minute
Although it seems like candy has been out on the shelves for months now, waiting to buy it until the last minute really keeps me from being tempted to eat it all. I have made the mistake in years past of buying the “good candy” (as my kids call it) way in advance only to find that it just calls my name for weeks. The stores are not going to run out of candy! I also try to buy the candy that I don’t personally care for.
Do something active early in the day
Plan to go to a class or go for a run earlier in the day. Most Halloween activities do not start until the afternoon or evening so an early morning workout gives you are great head start for the day.
Give yourself permission to enjoy the day
Decide in advance how much candy or goodies you would feel comfortable eating. Having a plan can take away some of the stress and make the day more relaxing.
Get rid of it
Left with more candy than you expected? Many shelters and military organizations and even some dentists will take donations of extra candy. Operation Gratitude has collection points all across the country and they will send it off to the troops for them to enjoy.
Keep a healthy Perspective
If all these tips don’t work and you have an overdose of sugar, know that one day does not ruin weeks of healthy habits.
Have a fun and safe Halloween!
Have any healthy Halloween tips for me?
Linking up with Nicole for Fit N Fashionable Friday
Fairytales and Fitness & Running on Happy for Friday Five
Per the Get rid of it advice–there will always be someone to take extra candy!
Yes! better them than me
We HAVE to buy last minute candy (in fact I don’t have it yet) because the Hubs has NO candy self control. I could leave it for a month but he’d eat it in one sitting and then I just have to buy more and I try to keep him on track with healthish food!!! haha
This is the first year I’ve waited this long to buy candy…. will get it this weekend or possibly even Monday morning!
Now that’s a great idea!
I have one saving factor: most Halloween candy is not vegan, so I won’t eat it. That doesn’t mean I’m not tempted, but it works for me as a stronger reason to skip it. I do still wait until the last minute and try to donate the leftovers, though.
Oh yes good point!
I am all about working out that day! I already have a RUNch planned. Yay! But I like all the candy!
I like it too unfortunately!
Great tips! We bought candy already but I made my husband hide it when I wasn’t looking 🙂 And if there are any leftovers, Mike takes them to his office the next day where his co-workers appreciate it.
Hiding it is a great idea 🙂
Great tips!!! I love the “get rid of it” tip.
OH I have to or else well you know 🙂
I don’t buy candy until the day of otherwise there will be none by Halloween!!! LOL!!!
I will give myself some liberties on Halloween but I need to get it together and not go overboard!
Hopefully the kiddies wond get any good candies that I like-ha!!
Enjoy the day!
I don’t have to deal with the candy at home. We don’t get kids at our house. BUT the office is the dumping ground for all the extra candy. It takes a lot of will power to not binge all day.
OH I bet!
This is our first Halloween with a house! I’m a huge believer in moderation so this year my boyfriend and I will be giving out 2 pieces of chocolate to each kiddo that comes to our door. In the future I would LOVE to be able to also accommodate for children with allergies.
Have fun with your first real halloween I love giving out to all the kiddos each year
I think I’m lucky in that I live in a condo so don’t have any kids around, so that already limits my purchase of candy. But I definitely look for it when it’s on sale 🙂
OH I bet that helps!
All of these are awesome tips! All of my food allergies actually come in handy on halloween. I can’t eat any of the candy so I automatically stay away from it! My mom swears by buying candy she doesn’t like so she’s not tempted to eat it.
I try to do that too but sometimes I get desperate and eat it anyway
I tend to buy candy I don’t really like, haha. That way I don’t eat it all! I’d much rather have a piece of the REALLY Good dark chocolate rather than waste myself on something mediocre!
I try to do that too and sometimes it works
Great tips! I am not one to indulge in candy but keeping it out of the house does help the temptation!
It sure does! I am a total chocolate lover
OMG, Deborah. I can’t follow any of this advice. I’m the first one buying the stupid candy and I’m the one hoarding it until all the chocolate’s gone… GAH! My sweet tooth will be the end of me!!! Luckily I’m nowhere near Halloween this year… phew!!
Ha ha you crack me up!
I always bring my leftover candy to work. It seems like it never goes to waste there!
Luckily we do not get any Trick or Treaters at the condo so we do not have to buy that candy. It is probably for the best. Too tempting when it is in the house.
Ahhhh I could never get rid of it haha. I would probably eat it all #noshame
There was one Halloween I ate ZERO candy! I have a sweet tooth so it is so hard! We bought our candy but I won’t touch it. The candy that comes in the house Halloween on the other hand… I really need to just relax but it’s been a stressful week so it will be hard.
I’m going to do Operation Gratitude this year, too! Awesome cause and super way to teach kids to give back and choose a healthier, frugal option.
Great tips! I feel like a healthy Halloween is all about balance – have a little candy if you want but realise that a little is enough and the candy isn’t going anywhere so you don’t need to devour it all in one go!
These are great tips. Halloween candy isn’t a thing for me anymore. I bought some early but had to hide it away so my husband doesn’t eat it all. My daughter has a November birthday so we used to use leftovers in the goody bags, but now I just bring it in to work.
You are lucky you don’t get that many people coming to your house I always think I will run out so I buy too much
Buying candy you do not like is probably the best advice I have ever had ! Great idea ! While France doesn’t celebrate Halloween, we do end up getting a few kids in costume, mainly friends of my girls.
Don’t tell anyone but sometimes I still eat the ones I don’t like
These are all great tips! I work in a hospital, so take all of the excess straight to work the next day…it’s usually gone in an hour 🙂
That works!
Awesome tips! I loved the one about giving the additional food to a shelter or military base, that’s a great way to chuck your additional candy to those who may need it more.
Yes exactly!
Great points about keeping healthy this Halloween!
I also like to give out little bags of nuts or things that don’t have a lot of sugar 🙂
Enjoy your weekend!
Also a good idea!
Love these tips! As I don’t have kids (yet), Halloween is not quite the crazy day as it was when I was a kid, but I appreciate the “be active early in the day” regardless of what craziness you may have later on! And for me, buying candy or treats at the last minute means you are SO much less tempted to dive in before the actual holiday!
Yes definitely!
I always avoid the candy until the night of. I stick to Swedish fish and only eat a few. Good running fuel.
Oh I had some of those too 🙂 They don’t count right?
Love that Operation Gratitude takes Halloween candy 🙂
Isn’t that great?!