It is that time of year, again. I don’t like it, but I am the one who gets the opportunity to hand out treats to the little beggars–I mean, trick-or-treaters. What is the Halloween equivalent to Scrooge? That’s me. The worst part is that the candy is so darn tempting. It is hard to resist a few (too many) mini Snickers or Peanut M&Ms or…. I have really been avoiding sugar these last few months, so it is going to either be much easier or much harder. To avoid temptation, this season, I might try:
Grapes. A sweet, healthy alternative for candy, but grapes are still relatively high in sugars and calories. Maybe keep a bowl beside the trick-or-treater bowl. Grapes, however, are not chocolate.
Dark chocolate. A few squares of a good dark chocolate (with a high percentage of cacao, e.g., 82%) might just take away the craving. Less sugar. Antioxidants. Etc. This is a reasonably healthy alternative.
Buttered coffee. A big ol’ mug of coffee with some grass-fed butter and coconut oil is a low-calorie (relative to those sugary snacks) that can curb the appetite for sugar—at roughly 220 kcal.
Restrict carbs for most of the day. Keep the carbohydrates below 50 g for the day (as near zero as possible) will allow for some sugary indulgences at the end of the day. Insulin spike might also give you a crash into bedtime. Limiting carbs and eating primarily low fat protein and high-fiber vegetables throughout the day will spare excess calories. It is best to restrict caloric intake throughout the day and eat a filling meal of mostly vegetables before the trick-or-treaters arrive. A full stomach will be less inclined to cry out for sweets. The last thing you want is to see a drop in blood sugar just as you are filling the treat bowl.
Enjoy some sweets. If you can limit yourself to only Halloween, the sweet binge is not going to be too damaging to your body composition. The challenge is the leftover candy and all the loot the kids bring home. Good luck!
Go a little harder and longer on the exercise. I am not one to recommend exercise as a punishment for food. We should eat to fuel our performance, but, on occasion, there is nothing wrong with a little “preemptive exercise”. Add a bit more effort to the workouts this week to increase energy expenditure and limit yourself to mostly low-calorie nutrient-dense foods. Leave the tank running a little empty, just in case your willpower fails. All those extra sweets may actually fuel more intense and longer workouts—leading to possibly greater gains. So, maybe Halloween isn’t so bad, after all.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!