Enjoying Halloween Without Compromising Your Health

Growing up with a major sweet tooth, I always loved Halloween. It’s the holiday of everything sweet!

But now, living with a chronic illness, I’m very much aware that sugar can create inflammation in the body – the very thing that I try to avoid with all my diet and lifestyle habits.

Above all else, I simply don’t feel well when I eat a lot of candy. It drains my energy, messes with my mood and emotions, and triggers any aches and pains I have in my body.

How to have a healthy Halloween

So, how can I enjoy this sweet holiday without creating a flare?

Everything in moderation

I know you've heard about moderation before. You know that eating the entire bag of Halloween candy in one night isn’t good. Thank you, Captain Obvious.

However, it’s not just about avoiding an upset stomach. You’re ensuring you’re not overloading your body with the sugar that creates inflammation.

You can still enjoy some festive treats but do so in moderation.

One of the ways that help me to do this best is by having candy after a meal. This way, I’ve already satisfied my hunger with real food, and candy is just something to enjoy afterward.

If I were to have candy as a snack in the middle of the afternoon when my energy is dipping, I’m far more likely to go overboard with the amount.

Having candy after a meal also reduces the chances of throwing my blood sugar levels out of whack. When blood sugar levels are imbalanced, that can trigger inflammation as well.

Stay hydrated

This is another way that may sound silly, but water can help to cut cravings and help us to fill up on candy when we’re just thirsty.

So, I focus on staying hydrated, aiming for half my body weight in ounces of water. I don’t reach it every day, but I certainly come closer than I do when I don’t set that intention.

As I’ve shared before, staying properly hydrated can help to overcome endo fatigue.

Pay Attention

When I’m enjoying something I don’t regularly have, I want to ensure that I’m genuinely enjoying it.

It’s easy to sit down with a bag of candy while watching your favorite movie, only to look down to an empty bag at the end of the movie and not even remember eating a single bite.

If you’re going to eat candy or whatever your Halloween treat is, enjoy it! Sit down and eat it undistracted.

Three things happen when you do this:

1. You’re not as distracted, so you get more satisfaction from the food and experience.
2. You tend to eat more slowly and, therefore, less. Mindless eating is a significant trap for overeating.
3. Because you’re paying attention to the food and eating, you tend to chew better and ultimately digest the food better.

So, it’s a win-win-win.

What tips do you have to enjoy Halloween without compromising your health?