Halloween Scaries
Happy Halloween!
From horror movies to haunted houses, Halloween has no shortage of scary things! One thing that can often be frightening, however, is halloween candy. If you are someone that fears losing control and bingeing on candy, gaining weight after eating candy or just plain feeling judged for being “unhealthy,” keep reading. The first thing to remember is that candy is just another food. It’s going to be made up of carbohydrate, protein or fat depending on what type of candy it is. And, your body will digest those macronutrients as it is beautifully designed to do. Remember, carbohydrates in large part provide energy, protein aids in muscle maintenance and repair and fats aid in fat soluble vitamin transport, make up all cell membranes and promote satiety. I realize, however, that knowing what macros do for the body alone may not be enough to simply make the fear of candy go away. That said, here are a few things to consider when moving through this spooky season:
Try to remember that eating a few pieces of candy is not a crime and as far as I’m concerned, the food police are not invited to Halloween or the coming days after. In addition, weight gain is not instantaneous after eating candy. This is simply not how the body works. If you want to know more come on in and we’ll start the conversation!
It’s not a secret that after Halloween, lots of candy will go on sale. Just because something is on sale does not mean that you have to buy it. If you are struggling with emotional eating or an eating disorder or just plain feeling impulsive it’s okay to take a break and check in with yourself about habituated patterns around holiday candy. What purpose does candy serve for you? How does it make you feel before eating it, during and after? Is it a way of coping with your feelings? If you’ve never explored the significance, we can definitely help you.
Lastly, it’s okay to find other halloween-inspired foods to try that are not candy. If it’s candy specifically that is intimidating, Pinterest and many other cooking websites have fun halloween-themed foods to try! There are loads of really great ideas out there so you can embrace the season without getting overwhelmed.
Disordered eating and dieting do not have to take over your life. We are here to help you work through these difficult times and even find some joy in them!
Written by Trinny Duncan, Student Intern and Peggy Pratt, PhD, RDN, LDN, CEDS-C