Does Halloween have you dipping your hands into that candy cauldron before the trick-or-treaters arrive? We’ve all been there. This time of the year it can be extremely tempting to overindulge in sweet treats we otherwise would avoid. Halloween typically fills your home with mounds of candy, and parties are packed with cakes, cookies, and other concoctions. Many think of Halloween as a kids’ holiday, but adults aren’t free from temptation! How can you keep control over your diabetes this Halloween? We list some helpful tips below.
ENFORCE MODERATION
This is a tip for the whole family. No one should be eating pounds of Halloween candy – not our children, and certainly not us parents. After trick-or-treating as a family, have everyone sort and divide their candy, choose a few favorites, and come up with a game plan. Allowing kids to have a few pieces of candy each night as a treat can keep them satisfied without overloading on unhealthy sugars and fats. This goes for you too. Rather than hoarding all the candy you’ve confiscated from your child, choose a few treats for yourself and dispose of the rest. One or two small pieces of candy incorporated into a healthy meal with protein and other nutrients can provide an indulgence spared of any blood-sugar spikes.
LOOK OUT FOR LURKING SUGARS
Halloween parties provide a fun opportunity to dress up in costume and enjoy the holiday, but they can also be a source of endless snacks and themed libations. How can you attend your neighborhood Halloween party and still maintain control? Look out for lurking sugars! While sweet, spooky punch may be the evening’s themed cocktail, try avoiding pre-mixed drinks with unknown ingredients. Being in control of your own cocktail, or avoiding alcohol altogether, can be an easy way to avoid unnecessary sugar throughout the evening.
GET INTO THE SPIRIT
What’s the easiest way to enjoy Halloween without worrying about Diabetes? Get into the scary spirit! Apply extra efforts in decorating the house, making killer costumes by hand, or doing Fall activities with the kids! Make toilet-paper mummies, homemade green slime, or build a family scarecrow. By focusing on the fun of the holiday itself and not the commercialized candy that comes with it, you’ll create experiences the whole family will enjoy. You can also take time to enjoy making your own diabetes-friendly treats such as popcorn, low-carb cookies, and sugar-free candies.
Palm Beach Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists, PA wishes everyone a happy and healthy Halloween. We hope you find these tips useful in enjoying the holiday. For information about PBDES and how we are pioneering the fight against diabetes and other endocrine disorders, please call our office at (561) 513-5100.