This week ghosts, goblins, and other creatures eagerly anticipate the yearly opportunity to expand their creative power, and allow themselves to express their inner vision. These imaginative expressions venture out ringing doorbells, excited for the treats and treasures on the other side of the door. For many, the two-fold question is: How does one make sure that the candy and sugary treats make their way out the door instead of being consumed before the first doorbell rings? And, how do you ensure that the little ones who have collected bucket loads of candy don’t actually consume their bounty, or at least not all of it. Let’s look at 7 simple steps to help manage the hunger habits associated with sugar, and bring harmony and balance back home!
It is important to create a plan when you know a situation is about to unfold that can leave you frazzled and off-balance. Halloween is one of those holidays that can create psychological and physical disturbances due to the side effects of sugar and candy that impact the mind and body.
Here are 7 simple solutions to navigate the sugary slope of the days ahead…
1. Buy at the Last Minute
The first simple, simple solution is to buy the candy at the last minute. That means, wait until Halloween day! This will ensure that the temptation won’t be lurking behind your cabinet door. I know, I know… you are probably saying that there won’t be a good selection at that point. Well, that brings me to my next tip.
2. Buy Things You Don’t Like
Buy candy you don’t like. It is for them after all, right? Choosing candy that won’t tempt you is a great way to ensure that you won’t sneak a treat especially at points in the day where you might be tempted more than at other times.
3. Super-size ?
I will often hear my kids say, “Oh, we have to go to that house or neighborhood because they have King Size candy bars.” As a parent who tries to instill in my kids an appreciation for healthy choices and appropriate portion size, I find this practice frustrating. It reminds me of how our culture has bought into the idea that super-sizing is better and that more is always best. This is especially challenging in the days after Halloween when kids are asking to have something from their bag of goodies. It is much easier to say yes to a small treat instead of saying you can only have a half of a regular size bar. Moderation is key! This can be hard to achieve when the Super-size phenomena takes hold.
4. Make it a Game
In our house we try to foster an atmosphere of learning. There are opportunities around every corner to teach everything from social skills and good manners to mathematics and creativity. Making the candy collection into a game has been a fun activity for the kids that they created. It is also great that the end result isn’t just about consumption. One of the favorite parts of Halloween for the kids is when they return home from their trick-or-treating adventure and dump out their bag load of candy on the kitchen floor. They sort, count, and trade. (The added bonus is that I get to see what is in their bags and scope out if any packages have been tampered with or opened.)
5. Sugar Boundaries
With the excessive amount of candy that is being consumed each Halloween, it is important to set up boundaries around what is allowed and what isn’t. How much candy are your children allowed to consume each day? Two treats each day or ten? How long do you want them consuming the candy? Will you allow your kids to eat it until the Easter Bunny comes with a basket load of goodies, or is fourteen days of extra sugar an ample amount of time? Thinking about these questions ahead of time will help you to clearly communicate, remove confusion, and set clear boundaries. This will circumvent the turbulent tantrums that sugar highs and lows can bring.
6. Choose What to Keep
Determining the answers to the above questions before Halloween night has the added benefit of helping you assess what should stay and what can go. Additionally, setting the level of expectations and the attachment to the candy that is collected. After the counting, sorting and trading, my crew chooses their favorite items to keep that they can consume at will for the next two weeks. There are many programs out there that collect extra candy to send to shelters, children’s homes, and to soldiers overseas. It has been my experience that the kids feel best about giving their candy away when they know there is a recipient on the other end.
7. Swap Out Sugar
It has been scientifically proven that sugar is linked to a whole host of maladies in our society. Research has shown that cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity all have a direct link to sugar consumption. Similarly, sugar is known to exacerbate behavioral issues. During the festivities of Halloween, limiting the ingestion of other sugary items can help decrease the amount of overall sugar. Swap juice for water, graham crackers for carrot sticks and cookies for apples.
Holidays (and the big business of candy manufacturers) can encourage harmful habits that throw off the equilibrium of one’s mind and body. Putting a plan in place before the annual trick-or-treat fun begins will promote a sense of balance and harmony for you and your ghouls and goblins.
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Happy Soaring!
XOXO
Photo credit: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/