A Treat, Not a Trick: Staying Healthy and Happy This Halloween

 Halloween is a magical time of year—full of spooky costumes, carved pumpkins, and, let’s be honest, copious amounts of candy. While it’s a holiday meant for fun and indulgence, it doesn't have to completely derail your family’s healthy habits or your own wellness goals. With a few simple "tricks," you can navigate the season without the "treats" turning into trouble.

Begin by filling up. This is the golden rule for both kids and adults. Before heading out to trick-or-treat or attending a party, make sure everyone eats a well-balanced meal rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Think of a chili with whole-grain bread or a veggie-loaded chicken stir-fry.

A satisfying dinner prevents two key issues.  First it prevents over snacking since full  tummies are less likely to raid the candy bags while walking the neighborhood. Second, stable blood sugar levels help you resist the urge to overindulge later in the evening.

The biggest challenge isn't the single night of Halloween, but the days and weeks that follow. Instead of trying to enforce a strict "no candy" rule—which often backfires into binging—teach and practice moderation. Before the trick-or-treating begins, talk to your kids about the plan. Perhaps they can choose 2-3 favorite pieces to enjoy on Halloween night, and the rest will be rationed.

 Use the excess candy as a teaching moment. Let your children pick their absolute favorites, and then "buy back" the rest with a fun prize, a trip to the movies, or money. Many dentists’ offices also run candy buy-back programs that donate to troops overseas.  Once the favorites are separated, store the stash in an opaque container, perhaps on a high shelf or even the freezer. Out of sight, out of mind is a powerful defense against mindless munching.

Halloween is actually a fantastic opportunity for movement! Ditch the car and walk your trick-or-treating route. It’s a great way to log some extra steps, burn off some energy, and enjoy the festive neighborhood decorations.

If you’re hosting a party, plan activities that get everyone moving. A "Monster Mash" dance party, a costume parade, or a spooky scavenger hunt are all great ways to ensure the evening is focused on fun, not just food.

If you are the one handing out treats, consider non-food alternatives. Stickers, glow sticks, temporary tattoos, bubbles, or fun pencils are often just as exciting for kids, and they are a lifesaver for children with food allergies. Look for the Teal Pumpkin Project—a sign that a house offers non-food treats. If you must hand out candy, opt for smaller "fun size" portions or less-sticky options like plain dark chocolate, which clears the mouth quicker and offers a few antioxidants.

Remember, Halloween is one day. The key to staying healthy is not perfection, but a mindful approach. Enjoy a piece or two of your favorite candy slowly and mindfully—savoring the flavor rather than just gulping it down. By prioritizing a healthy meal beforehand, getting active, and planning for moderation, you can enjoy all the spooky fun without the health scares. Happy haunting!  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great weekend.

10 Interesting Facts about Halloween

Happy Halloween to everyone.  I hope it turns out to go well for you.  I live in a place where the city council dictates the hours that children may go around trick or treating so by 8 PM, we are done. 

Every year, a new movie or two comes out with the Halloween theme and school set up carnivals, dances, or other events but what do you really know about it.

This is not a history of the holiday since its changed so much over time.  Instead, I'm looking at cool facts on the celebration.

1.  There is a $1000 fine if you decide to spray silly string around in Hollywood California.  The law hit the books in 2004 when thousands of people decided to spray it all over the place.

2. Dressing up originated a very long time ago when Celts wore costumes and masks so they could confuse and hide from evil spirits.

3. The term Halloween comes from the Catholic Church.  They have a 3 day celebration, Hallow mass, where people pray for the saints and those who have passed. Over the years it changed from Hallow's eve to Halloween.

4.  Originally, they carved turnips not pumpkins because this particular tradition began in Europe where they did not have pumpkins.  When the Irish came over in the 1800's, they brought this tradition with them but since they could not find the turnips, they used pumpkins.

5. Many of the symbols associated with Halloween such as spiders, black cats, etc came about due to a historical association with witches.

6. A full moon on Halloween is extremely rare.  The last one was in 2001 and the next one is scheduled in 2020.

7. The tradition of trick or treating has been around since medieval times when it was called "guising".  Children and poor dressed in costumes would go around asking for food or money in exchange for songs or prayers.  It was also called "souling".  This tradition came to the US with the Irish.

8.  Trick or Treating was suspended in World War II due to sugar being rationed.  It came back after the war in 1947 when several radio shows helped re-popularize the tradition.

9. Halloween is the second most popular holiday behind Christmas.

10. The most filmed Halloween character is Dracula.

I hope you enjoyed these facts and I hope each and everyone of you has a great Halloween.

Just In Time.

After a long day and a long plane ride, I arrived in Honolulu just in time for the Halloween celebrations.   I am not talking a bit of door to door trick or treating, I am talking about a huge multi-block party that went from restaurant, to store, to hotels to the middle of the sidewalk.

The shuttle driver explained that they had to take a different route to Waikiki than usual because of the party that was happening.  He wasn't kidding.  The closer we got to Waikiki and the Honolulu Zoo, the more snarled traffic became.  No one was moving much at all.  I saw all sorts of costumed people congregating on the side walk in groups.  It was slow going because the driver was following side streets not much wider than alleys and people would suddenly head out into the street.

The hotel even got into the spirit.  There was this cute stuffed bat over check-in.  A autonomic old dracula with a bowl of candy.  Every time you  got to close, it would ask you if you wanted candy.  The lobby was filled with people who were both costumed and in regular clothing.  The desk clerk looked like Mrs Adams of the Adams family. 

I checked in and headed for the room.  I didn't come down again as I was tired and just didn't feel social.  Thing is, I stay at an older hotel that I love because it has kitchenettes and they make you feel like family. My room doesn't have air conditioning and I keep the windows open to let the breeze come in.  Well last night got a bit loud with people cackling like Hyenas, people crushing things and the once an hour police sirens wailing through the night.

Honestly, its not that loud usually and tonight should be better.  I got up early this morning, took a lovely walk, picked up a bit of fresh fruit and had a lovely breakfast.  I got some cinnamon raisin sweet bread for breakfast and it is so good straight out of the bag with nothing on it.  I'm off to get some things done but enjoy your first day of November.