Why You Should Continue Enjoying Your Halloween Candy
Do you still have Halloween candy around? Wondering what to do with it? Did you know it is ok to enjoy Halloween candy all year round?
It may sound crazy, but yes, why shouldn’t we enjoy Halloween candy, or any candy, everyday of the year? In terms of nutrition, candy is not the most nutrient dense – no vitamins, minerals, or antioxidants to boost our health. But, candy does have health promoting qualities – maybe not the most common or noticeable, but they exist.
Sometimes the healthiest way to eat candy is to do just that – eat it! Research has shown that restricting food (not just candy) can lead to bingeing or overeating to a point of uncomfortable fullness. Hiding candy, or other “forbidden” foods, gives that food all of the power! How do we take that power away? Have those foods out and about just like the other snacks – why should they be any different?
Yes, candy is high in sugar. No, this doesn’t mean we should eat candy all day long without considering our health.
Enjoy your candy to the fullest while also considering:
- What you Really Want: if you are in the mood for a chocolatey candy, but go for something fruity, odds are you’ll end up eating the fruity candy and eventually the chocolate candy too! Consider what you actually want and will get satisfaction from, and then completely enjoy every bite of it.
- Are you Full: sometimes it can be sad to stop enjoying something that is so good and brings so much joy. But, it’s also uncomfortable to eat past fullness and feel sick. While you are enjoying your candy, take breaks and consider if you are still hungry or if you have had enough for the moment. And remember, you can still eat the candy again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and get all of the joyful feelings again.
- Curiosity over Judgement: eating is a constant learning experience. If you eat too much candy one day, acknowledge it, move on, and learn from it. Be curious to learn about the signals our body’s tell us. There is no such thing as a perfect eater.
The moral of the story is, eat the candy, and enjoy the candy! Share this message with family and friends and apply it to other “forbidden” foods.