Tricking or Treating?

Is Halloween an excuse to finally buy candy? Or do you buy candy you don’t like, hoping you won’t eat it, only to eat it anyway and then feel guilty about it? Do you ever feel resentful that you’re expected to have sweets for trick-or-treaters, knowing that you won’t be able to resist it but not wanting to disappoint the children at your door?

Halloween magnifies some of the struggles you may face year-round. Candy surrounds us on all sides. It shows up in every store, in a bewildering and beguiling array of options: chewy, crunchy, gooey, jaw-breaking, sweet, sour, chocolaty, nutty, fruity, and more in all shapes and sizes.

Even if you only intend to get a small amount, it can be hard to ignore the call of those brightly colored bags. This is especially true if you trick yourself, saying it’s for the kids when it’s really for you. If you’ve deprived yourself of all things sweet, the urge to buy, then eat, lots of candy will only grow stronger.

You may turn to eating in secret, perhaps polishing off a bag or two of Halloween goodies before the holiday arrives, then replacing them before anyone notices they’re gone.

Instead of tricking yourself, treat yourself. Choose to eat exactly what you want without guilt. Maybe it’s in the Halloween aisle, maybe it’s somewhere else. Whatever it is, remind yourself that you are worth enjoying what you eat and that you’ll enjoy it more when you’re hungry and you eat it without guilt. Give yourself several minutes to savor your treat. Remember why you love it so you won’t be tricked into eating candy that you don’t need or even want.