What to do With All that Candy?

Typically, on Halloween, we aren't home.  We are one of those dark houses people don't even make an effort to knock on.  We go out to dinner as a family or go see a movie, so having too much leftover candy on hand isn't typically a problem we have. However, a couple of years ago several of the teachers at my daughters' school gave parents their addresses so that the children could visit known entities. Since then, either my husband or I have taken them out to trick or treat.  Last year, we had 5 month old AND the 31st of October just happened to be the first snow of the season in our region of Kansas!  Needless to say, I stayed home with the baby.

They typically don't collect mounds of candy, which I'm happy about, but they do get enough to be satisfied and excited! If you've found that you... have a different problem...too much leftover candy, either from the kids' buckets or candy that you didn't get to hand out try these tips to avoid over indulging. 

1. JUST THROW IT OUT
This will likely put you in the running for Worst Parent Ever, but it's for the best! Have your kids choose their favorite treats and then donate or throw away the rest. The longer treats stay in the house uneaten, the more likely you are to give in and gobble it up.

DID YOU KNOW? Some dentists now offer to buy candy off kids in exchange for cash. That's right!  This year the going rate at our Pediatric Dentist is a dollar per pound up to five pounds!  Not bad! Plus, all of the candy collected is sent to our military troops!   If you opt to go this route, your littles will earn some spending money and you’ll get that calorie-filled temptation out of your house and mind.  Does your dentist's office offer a similar incentive? Shoot me a note! I'd love to know!  
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​2. Eat Well
Sugar cravings can strike when you’re hungry and haven’t consumed enough fuel to keep your blood sugar in balance.  "Eat protein and fiber-rich meals in the days before and after Halloween", advises Ann Marion Willis, a R.D. in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. "It’ll make you feel less tempted to create a dinner out of mini candy bars."

3. Savor a Single Treat - this may or may not work depending on your resolve to stay on the straight and narrow. Mindless eating is a good way to eat way more than you mean to — whether that’s nuts, chips, or candy. Instead of sitting in front of the TV munching your way through a bag of chocolate, try mindful eating. Select the one piece of candy that you most want to eat. Tune out all other distractions and focus on savoring the experience of eating it. Chew slowly, let it melt in your mouth, enjoy the sweetness, and notice how it makes you feel.  Make your piece of candy go even further by chopping it into tiny pieces and sprinkling the bits on top of plain Greek yogurt.

4. Keep Your Mouth Minty Fresh
Brushing your teeth can be a deterrent similar to installing orthodontic hardware if you're trying to avoid eating candy.  Especially that chewy and sticky kind!  When you get the urge to tear open a handful of Halloween loot, run and give your teeth a quick brushing and see if that curbs it.

Here's to planning for the best outcome possible!  You can do it!!

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