Learning

The Halloween Love Affair

by Karen Schachter, contributing editor
http://www.dishingwithyourdaughter.com

It’s Harvest Season! And instead of visions of butternut squash and pumpkins that should be dancing in my head, I am dreaming about Halloween. I love the creepy Halloween decorations, funny costumes, and yes...trying to manage the influx of candy at the end of the month!

And my long-standing, passionate love affair is with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. It’s not an every-day sort of thing, but a same time next year kind of affair, and as the yearly date approaches, I find myself in a bit of a dilemma.

While I still love my Reese’s, it has become a bit of an unhealthy relationship. I don’t feel so great after our time together. I lose control, I become sugar-obsessed, and I just don’t know how to stop after a few kisses, as in bites.

What I know, too, is that I’m not alone! I hear from people every day who struggle with this once-a-year phenomenon and the fall-out that comes along with it. This dilemma is dealt with by parents and children alike. With the encouragement of parents, children begin to develop the love affair with candy and sweets over years, and so the cycle continues.

As a mom and a health coach, I have found a few ways to balance my love for Reese’s with a renewed commitment to my health and the health of my family without stealing the joy of this fun holiday.

  1. Make a commitment to yourself that you will choose to care deeply for yourself this holiday season — not out of deprivation, but out of self-respect and self-care.
  2. Ask your children how much candy they feel their bodies can handle. Do this BEFORE the influx of candy, and really talk with them about what feels right. Even if the number is higher than you’d like, you are inviting them to make connections between what they put into their body and how they feel. This will serve them well in the future.
  3. Consider offering to buy your kids candy from them or exchange it for a special gift. Last year, I suggested that my kids keep their very favorites and sell the rest to me. I was honest that I was doing this because I’d rather they have the money to buy something that would serve them well as opposed to the alternative.
  4. Prepare a soothing and delicious meal BEFORE trick or treating. This is when my visions of butternut squash and pumpkin come in handy: A delicious creamy butternut squash soup is sweet, creamy and oh-so-comforting.
  5. If you choose to eat your favorite candy, enjoy it and savor it. Teach your children to do the same. Take small bites — really taste it, rather than gobbling it! When we eat slowly and with real pleasure, we’re much less likely to overeat.

Have any ideas to add more love and nourishment into your child’s lunchbox? We would love to hear!