8 Tricks For a Healthy Halloween
by Darya Rose | Oct 30, 2008
With extra candy, alcohol and fun all over the place (not to mention a once-in-a-lifetime election around the corner), there is no point in denying that this Halloween weekend will involve some splurging. But that doesn’t mean you have to throw your health out the window.
Remember these 8 tricks and your Halloween can still be a treat!
- Leave your guilt at the door. Today will probably not be ideal for your health, but if you are going to splurge you may as well enjoy it.
- Do not skip meals. Halloween usually involves late night parties and candy, things that should not interfere too much with your regularly scheduled food program. Trying to eat light during the day to compensate for your junk food later will actually just cause you to eat more junk food–not a wise strategy.
- Have a healthy, satisfying dinner. You would be surprised how easy it is to skip the third mini-Snickers if you are not hungry or are even feeling a little full. Better to be full of stir fry than trans fat, right?
- Eat lean protein, vegetables and healthy fats before you go out. The main danger on Halloween is sugar. Too much sugar causes blood sugar to rise and insulin to skyrocket. Ultimately this leads to insulin resistance, weight gain and more hunger! To avoid this, slow down the digestion process with these healthy foods.
- Easy on the carbs. You will probably be getting more than your fair share of sugars and starches this weekend. Minimize extraneous carbohydrates in your meals by cutting out bread and rice. Eat whole grains instead.
- Keep moving. One easy way to make up ground if you are eating extra calories is to burn them off as you go! If you are out at a party, be sure to keep moving. Walk to your destination, play active games and dance all night!
- Be safe. No matter what you do or do not eat, it is always important to make good decisions when you go out on the town. Be smart and make it home in one piece or none of this advice will do you any good.
- Brush up. All that extra sugar is really bad for your chompers. Remember to brush your teeth and rinse with fluoride as soon as you can after all that candy.Please leave comments below and have a happy Halloween!
I’m giving out colored cauliflower to the kids who come around to my house. It’s colored, so it’s fun like candy, and it’s totally like 2 or 3 times healthier than a twix bar. Health crisis solved. Can I get a what what?
Dr. Nick proves that Halloween is actually supported by the FDA Food Pyramid.Dr. Nick’s Neglected Food Groups
My fave Halloween indulgence is Butterfingers. What’s yours, Darya?
jed:What what!!——nicholas:My favorite is the chocotastic!—–anon:I have lost my taste for your standard halloween fare, but I do love a good caramel apple this time of year!