Are Treats Feeling Tricky?
nessa here. Just to get this out of the way and up front: I am unashamedly Team Candy Corn, i.e. "The Most Hated Candy in America" according to an MSN poll and many many food writers on the Internet. And yes, that picture to the left is a corn cob made out of candy corn and cookie dough.
This is the time of year where a lot of people start thinking about the holidays and the food choices that go along with them. And while this year may not look the same as other years with regard to, well...ANYTHING, Karen and I will still be bringing you our favorite holiday nutrition programming in the weeks to come. Starting here with our top 3 holiday candy tips:
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Embrace the candy as part of the holiday celebration. Every holiday has activities and foods surrounding it. One doesn't have a bigger seat at the table than the other. By giving the candy a role as part of the fun, you are teaching your children (and yourselves) that it doesn't have any special power that has to enjoyed immediately and in stomach-upsetting quantities. And if there is a particular candy that you enjoy the most, EAT IT. Don't eat something lower-fat or sugar-free or that box of raisins from that one house that insists on giving those out instead of candy. As we know, that behavior will likely result in mindlessly eating a lot more than just the one thing you were wanting.
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Plan trick or treating after a big snack or dinner. Especially if you or your family has difficulty with hunger or fullness signals, try having dinner before trick-or-treating. If a meal isn’t possible, have a snack like fruit and nut butter or a cheese stick. These nutrient-dense snacks will help stabilize energy levels and pair the candy with some protein and fat to avoid a sugar high (and the following crash).
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Notice this year's experience vs. other years. As I mentioned, this year will likely look different around the holidays for many of you. Try to think of this as an opportunity to tune in and note the differences (and also any similarities). Grounding yourself in your environment will help with noticing your emotions that may be masquerading as physical hunger. Take a few minutes to evaluate your thoughts and feelings.
And by the way, candy corn was first marketed as "Chicken Corn" in the 1880s. So it's a protein, right?