HALLOWEEN CANDY: BEFORE AND AFTER THE TRICK-OR-TREATERS

Sure, the decorations have been up in stores for months, but now that Halloween is around the corner, and that means candy is everywhere. Whether you’re stocking up for trick-or-treaters or navigating leftover sweets after the big night, it can feel overwhelming to find the “just right” amount. It is possible to have candy in the house without it feeling like a battle.

The key is to approach it with a mindset that encourages balance, not restriction.

BEFORE HALLOWEEN

When we treat certain foods—like Halloween candy—as “forbidden,” they become much more tempting, because they feel like they are only available for a certain time. We’ve all been there: the more we tell ourselves we can’t have something, the more we want it. The more power that we give to any type of food, the more power it takes; and food is many things, but it’s also just food! Halloween candy isn’t “good” or “bad,” it’s not “right” or “wrong” – it’s just another food that is available to us.

Instead of labeling candy as off-limits, it can be okay to allow yourself to enjoy it in moderation. Buy the candy you actually like (instead of getting something you think you won’t eat…I see you, candy corn), and give yourself permission to have a piece or two leading up to the holiday.

PRACTICING SELF-CONTROL

Self-control is a skill that you can practice, and like any muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it gets. As Halloween approaches, start working on small acts of self-control in areas outside of food. For example, you could challenge yourself to scroll less on social media by setting a timer or resist the urge to hit “snooze” in the morning, choosing to get up right when your alarm goes off. These habits could give way to thinking about how you can practice self-control around the candy bowl, like choosing to have one piece of candy when you want it, or walking away when you’re not actually hungry at all. These small wins build confidence in your ability to make mindful choices, and build the muscle that is self-control; research shows that we have as much of this as we believe. Like other muscles, the more we use it, the stronger it becomes (and the more automatic it is able to feel).

AFTER HALLOWEEN

When the costumes are put away for the night, what to do with the leftover candy?! You could throw it all away, but restricting yourself post-holiday can lead to that same cycle of deprivation and overeating.

Here’s another approach; it does require mindfulness, which is something you might actively have to practice, or might be more of an ingrained habit (it’s a spectrum, but everyone has self-control).

Keep the candy around. Instead of eating mindlessly from a bowl of chocolates, take a moment to ask yourself if you really want it. If the answer is yes, enjoy a piece slowly and without guilt. It’s important to trust yourself to eat in moderation—this builds a healthier relationship with food in the long run.

Last year, a client shared her strategy that I loved: she went through her kids’ trick-or-treating hauls and the family kept all of their favorites (Twix and Snickers for her, Starburst and sour patch kids for her husband, and a variety of gummy bears, Skittles, and nerds for her kids). They had plenty of candy to enjoy for a bit after Halloween, and because they liked what was in the house, they never had to put themselves in a position of eating candy that they didn’t really even enjoy “just because it was there.”

CREATING YOUR PLAN

At the end of the day, having Halloween candy in the house shouldn’t create stress; after all, the less stress that you carry, the more energy that you can devote to building that self-control muscle (set yourself up for success!). It’s about building trust in yourself and fostering an environment where candy (and all foods) don’t have power over you.

• Set a flexible structure: Decide how many pieces of candy you feel comfortable having each day or week, but be kind to yourself if you go over—one day won’t ruin your progress.

• Keep it visible: Instead of hiding candy out of sight, keep it somewhere you can see it. This helps normalize its presence and reduces the feeling of scarcity.

• Pair it with other foods: Try having candy after a balanced meal or with some fruit. This can help you feel more satisfied and avoid the urge to eat a bunch in one sitting.

Halloween is meant to be fun, and candy is part of that enjoyment! When we approach it with balance and flexibility, we can savor the treats without feeling out of control. Which reminds me: I’ve got to go stock up on Reese’s, because that’s the candy I’m choosing to have access to during this season. Happy Halloween!

Favorite Halloween candy?? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

And if Halloween candy has been, or still is, on your list of “bad” or “forbidden” foods and you’re looking for support in challenging that mindset and changing your behavior, 1:1 nutrition coaching could be a great support as you navigate these changes. You don’t have to have a complete hold on your self-control all at once – it starts with awareness and builds from there.  Nutrition coaching can be an amazing way to walk alongside a coach as you are layering on your willpower skills!