How To Handle Halloween Candy With Confidence

IS IT REALLY HOLIDAY SEASON AGAIN !?!!

Holidays can bring BOTH excitement AND food-anxiety for us.

Let’s look at 3 powerful ways to navigate Halloween candy with confidence:

1. DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT AHEAD OF TIME.

Take charge by pre-determining how YOU want to handle the candy thing.  

What will bring you the most peace?

This year you may want to:

  • ENJOY SOME: You might choose to savor some of your favorite candy. If so, decide on the amount, the place and time that feels safe and positive for you to enjoy this intentional treat. Make a date with it so you’re not eating mindlessly or sheepishly.

    Or…

  •  HAVE NONE: You might feel more peaceful about not having any candy at all this year. Perhaps you feel that one piece will lead to the whole bowl.

    Do what brings you the most peace.

                 BIG HELP: Be sure to stay satisfied by eating other foods you truly enjoy.

 

2. MAKE A DECISION ABOUT LEFTOVER CANDY NOW – This is vital and easy to overlook.

This is a common misstep.

We can be mindfully prepared for Halloween, but then, get caught off-guard afterwards by the gobs of leftover candy.

Remember:

Leftovers usually cause more pain & regret than food eaten on the actual holiday.

 

So. Go ahead and decide what you want to do with leftover candy now.

POSSIBILITIES:

  • Give it away to a school, church or charity (Though they may not want it either.)

  • Grind it up in the garbage disposal while you do a free-&-happy dance!

Be honest with yourself about what might happen if you don’t choose either of these things?

KEEP A LIBERATED MINDSET: Give yourself full permission to throw it all away – guilt free.

It has served its holiday purpose. Getting rid of it is not wasteful. It is prudent.

3. GIVE YOURSELF GRACE.

No one walks this holiday-thing perfectly. If you fall back into old patterns, simply acknowledge it, treat yourself with compassion, and see what you can learn from the experience.

 Ask yourself some revealing self-coaching questions:

  •  When did I go from thoughtful to mindless with this candy?

  •  What tool or support could have helped me stay in sane-eating mode? 

  •  What lesson do I want to remember for the next holiday?

Don’t be discouraged. Returning to old patterns is normal (and necessary) in any genuine life-change journey.

Our stumbles can be our best school!

 

As we move toward this special time of year, decide to have a journey mindset.

  • Become a curious student of yourself.

  • Stay in discovery mode.

  • Anticipate good things.

  • Notice what’s working and do more of that.

  • Picture yourself getting stronger, wiser, freer and more peaceful with food with each passing holiday.

This year can be the one that “turns the corner” for you!

You really can learn how to handle holidays (and everyday) with peace and confidence.

Cindy Landham