11 HALLOWEEN STRATEGIES

Halloween can be very scary to a woman on a mission – a body transformation mission, that is.

Most of us can keep the temptations out of the house, but when Halloween comes around and there are kids involved, forget it! There’s no way to get around having candy in the house or having Kit Kats and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups beating you over the head saying “Eat me, eat me!”

Oh, and those strategies of handing out tattoos, stickers and plastic toys just don’t cut it in my eyes. I don’t want to give those out…and I sure don’t want to be the one who offers up apples or popcorn (it’s no fun and I don’t want my house egged!)

So what’s a girl to do on Halloween and over the course of the next several weeks when the kid’s candy stash is still lying around?

Here are some ideas to beat Halloween Candy Sabotage.

1.     Just say “No!” I think this one, in conjunction with some others, is the best. Go black or white. The gray shades of “Just 2 pieces”, or some other deal you make with yourself, usually don’t work. Very few people stop when they say they will. Sugar is just too addicting. At Flemington Boot Camps, this is a big one!

2.     Buy candy you DON’T like.

3.     Hide the candy you will be giving out until the little ghouls and goblins arrive at your front door.

4.     Hide the candy your kids bring home. (Out of sight, out of mind – studies prove it.)

5.     Dump the junkiest of the junk candy. I don’t expect you to make your kids toss all the candy they worked so hard for, but come on, don’t feel bad tossing “Super-Junk”. You’ll end up with mostly chocolate.

6.     Eat a full, supportive breakfast today (protein, vegetable/fruit, healthy fat). While you should never skip, Halloween day is particularly important. At Flemington Boot Camps, we talk about what supportive nutrition means to a busy woman and breakfast is always included.

7.     Make sure you drink all of your water today. Half your body weight in ounces is a good estimate. If you are dehydrated, you tend to eat more food and your body will crave food that is generally unsupportive.

8.     EAT  dinner before you head out with your kids. Make sure you eat protein and fiber, don’t settle for pizza!

9.     Prepare a healthy option treat for yourself. When the kids are enjoying the spoils, you have your special dish. A very easy treat is to mash a frozen banana and mix with ¼ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, dash of cinnamon, dash of nutmeg and 2 tablespoons of shredded coconut. See below for other options.

10. See #1. Just say “No!” Stay committed to the cause- the cause is you! You have a goal and no one said it would be easy, but I have faith you. Stretch yourself a little bit (or a lot) and don’t give in.
Remember that sugar is addicting, you will want more and more of it …and not just today, but tomorrow, too! Sugar not only damages your physical body (like giving you wrinkles and storing fat), it puts a damper on your brain. Anxiety, moodiness, foggy brain and depression are all symptoms of too much sugar.

11. Work Out today!  Of all days, don’t skip your workout! Flemington Boot Camps has the perfect type of workouts for busy women. Give a call today at 908-963-5257 and see how we can help you get started!

Here are some more recipes for a Healthy Halloween!

They come from:

Nina Manolson, MA, Health Coach
Psychology of Eating Coach and Family Wellness Expert
Healthy Halloween Handbook by Nina Manolson.
Nina@HealthyYummyKids.com

Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients:

·      2 Medium size ripe avocados
·      1/2 cup soaked and pitted dates — set them to
soak anywhere from 10 minutes to overnight
until they are soft and will blend smooth

·      1 teaspoon vanilla extract (non-alcohol is tastier,
than you don’t have the alcohol flavor)
·      Pinch of sea salt
·      1 teaspoon of orange zest (optional but so tasty)
·      3-5 tablespoons raw cacao powder (cocoa
·      powder will work too)
·      Water — enough so blender will run smoothly,
about ¼ cup or a little more (coconut water
adds a wonderful flavor)

How to
• In a Vitamix or blender, blend well
• Put in small dishes and refrigerate

Caramel Apples

Ingredients
• 1 cup dates (pitted and un-soaked)
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup almond milk (or other nut milk of
your choice) — start with less milk and add to get
the blender moving smoothly and the consistency
you want.
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon non-alcoholic vanilla extract
• 1 dash of cardamom (optional, but lovely)
• 1 dash sea salt

How to
• In a Vita-Mix or powerful blender, mix until totally
creamy.
• Dip apple slices into caramel and enjoy