I have always loved the fall season… and until several years ago, all the Halloween “treats” it brings. (I definitely don’t enjoy the “tricks” like those October blizzards, though!)
The Sugar Spiral Starts with Halloween
October seems to be the month that kicks off a 3-month sugar-fueled spiral. One piece of candy turns into two. Two turns into five. Somehow, five turns into an entire bag (because “it’s on sale” or “we didn’t get enough trick or treaters” or “I’m eating it so my kids don’t”)!
Then Thanksgiving approaches, and we feel miserable for having fallen off our healthy wagon. That feeling of “failure” combines with your body’s sugar cravings that are back in full swing. The result is even more difficulty limiting yourself on the pumpkin pie and Thanksgiving desserts.
You can imagine how that rolls into Christmas, with all the Christmas cookies it brings!
I used to get sucked into this spiral HARD. As someone with a major sweet tooth, I always found myself loitering by the snacks and dessert tables at any gatherings I went to… and my health reflected it. I felt like half of the Seven Dwarfs! Sleepy, grumpy, and dopey… and frequently visiting the Doc.
Stop the Spiral Before it Starts
I found that the best way to make it through the season is to stop the spiral before it even starts by focusing on healthier options whenever possible, starting with Halloween. That’s why I wanted to put together a few healthier Halloween options for you this season, which you can check out by downloading this PDF.
What are your favorite ways to choose health during the Halloween season? Let us know!
Elizabeth Miller is a board certified health and wellness coach. She graduated from the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy and has a Master’s Degree in Communication Studies. Elizabeth’s passion for wellness evolved from her own past struggle with autoimmune disease, which she now is able to manage through diet and lifestyle. Learn more about Elizabeth here.
