Halloween on a Diet

Halloween officially kicks off the holiday season, making it even MORE difficult to stay on a diet. I wrote about getting through Halloween last year, when I had just started dieting. I was really determined to get through it without binge eating those tiny chocolate bars, and I made it through! Last year I didn't buy any candy to hand out and we spent the whole evening out with the kids Trick or Treating. I plan on doing that again. That solves problem #1 - Candy I Buy.

Last year I read about letting your kids trade candy for other things and my family ended up loving this idea. That solves problem #2 - Candy The Kids Get. I will write about it here later in the week, it is a really fun family-centered idea. I want to be just as determined this year to stay away from the candy as I was when I just started dieting. 85% Dark Chocolate Bars and Chocolate Teas will be the keys for me when a craving hits.

Most importantly, don't buy those bags of candy! Don't have them in your house. For me, that is key. If there really is no way to avoid them in the house, try one of these ideas:

• Don't buy candy at all - spend the evening going house to house with your kids.
• Buy candy you don't like or are allergic to .
• Wait and buy it early evening on Halloween - the less time it is in the house, the less damage it can do.
• Great alternative to candy this year was passing out Silly Bandz. This is such an excellent idea and your house would be more popular than then house with Full Size Snickers Bars! Amazon has a great deal on them, but Target, Walgreens, Walmart and everyone else carries them too. Best part is, you can't eat them!
• Have a low sugar treat in the house you can eat when/if the cravings come.

This year we are planning on doing a Star Wars family theme. Yes, that's right... we all dress up! That is us two years ago. My costume is a twin flat sheet I sewed up for Princess Leia. I will have to take it in a bit this year and my hair is much shorter, so not sure how I'm going to do the buns. My youngest was Han Solo. He had a black wig and I taught him to say "I know" when I said "I love you".

How are you planning to survive Halloween on a low sugar plan?