Get Back on Track After Halloween

• Halloween night can include sugary and other high-calorie foods if you’re trick-or-treating, going to or hosting a party, or handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.

• It’s best to limit your sugar consumption around Halloween, but it’s okay if you overdid it. You can get back on track and look ahead to November and December, which often come with challenges related to the holiday season.
• Lark can help you make healthy choices and stay on track as you log food, get tips for weight loss, and make small changes that can turn into healthy habits.
  

Happy Halloween! As you get ready to trick-or-treat, hand out candy, or host or attend a party, you might be spooked when you think about your health and weight goals. From pizza and mac and cheese as traditional dinners, to candy, cupcakes, and other sugar-laden treats, there can be a lot to fear this Halloween. Still, you can take steps to be healthy and safe and get right back on track as the holiday season takes hold.

A Healthier, Safer Halloween

If you’re facing a barrage of candy and treats, here are a few last-minute tips to minimize the damage to your waistline and blood sugar.

• Find activities to participate in that don’t involve eating. Examples include helping children with costumes, running games at parties, and wearing a spooky costume to scare visitors in your front yard.
• Select one or two pieces of your favorite candy, and enjoy them.
• Make healthier dishes to bring to or serve at parties. The American Heart Association suggests apple mouths and banana ghosts, for example.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, says to inspect candy before giving it to your children or letting them eat it, and to throw away unwrapped candy.

Check out these detailed tips for planning a healthy and safe Halloween.

Handling Leftovers

If you went trick-or-treating or handed out candy on Halloween, you may have a lot of leftover candy. It’s a good idea to get it out of your reach. That’s because a standard bag of candy can

have enough calories to add 2 pounds to your body weight, and enough sugar to hit your maximum recommended limit for a month.

If someone in your household has some extra candy, see if they’re willing to hide it from you so you don’t eat it.

You can also donate candy. Many schools, shelters, and other institutions accept it. However, Harvard School of Public Health reminds us that this candy may end up in the mouths of children, and it may not be doing their health much good. If you don’t like the thought of giving children sugary foods, you may be better off throwing away your extra candy.

New Goals for the Season

Halloween is an unofficial start to the holiday season. As Thanksgiving and Christmas time approach, you may notice more high-calorie foods and snacks being present. It’s a challenging time of year for many people who are trying to lose weight and eat well.

To stay on track, it can help to reassess your weight loss goals to make them realistic. That way, you can stay motivated to work hard to achieve them. You might consider, for example, changing your goal to maintain your weight rather than lose weight. That change might allow you to enjoy family and other events with less stress, while still making healthy choices.

More Tips to Start the Holiday Season

It’s no secret that family get-togethers, parties with friends, and events and snacks at work are abundant during November and December. Here are a few tips for getting through these next couple of months feeling healthy and proud.

• Stay in charge. You can say, “no,” if you don’t want to eat something.
• Prepare healthy swaps or alternative foods if you know you’re going to encounter unhealthy options at home, work, or parties.
• Manage stress. Take time for yourself, stay active, get plenty of sleep, and practice deep breathing techniques.
• Have a plan for when gift shopping, family time, or parties start to get overwhelming. For example, you might go for a walk or sit alone and read a book.

By taking it one day at a time, and keeping your realistic goals in mind, you can have a healthier holiday season.

How Lark Can Help

Halloween can be super fun, and it doesn’t have to be super scary. You can choose healthier options, get rid of leftovers, and get ready for the holiday season with Lark’s help.Your Lark coach is available 24/7 as you log and track food and physical activity, work towards your weight loss goals, and get personalized health coaching.

Click here to see if you may be eligible to join Lark today!

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