How to Avoid the Halloween Candy Binge

advice binge candy craving halloween holidays sugar trigger Oct 27, 2022

Holidays will always bring seasonal decor and treats into the house.

I used to dread this time of year. I was working on getting healthy and wanted to lose weight, but all the candy created an overwhelming temptation that would eventually cause me to lose control.

But then I learned the truth about sugar, and it revealed that cravings are a normal reaction to the stimulation from the sweet substances that trigger binging and cravings.

These five tips are simple and easy ways to maintain control and avoid a Halloween candy binge.

1. Delay

Limit the time that the candy is in your house. On this occasion, procrastination is deliberate & makes sense. You'll be less likely to eat it & replace or replenish the supply if you buy it the same day or just before the holiday.

2. Buy candy you don't like

Remember the candy you'd trade or throw away as a kid? That's the candy to buy to give away! You'll be less likely to partake if you don't like it. And you'll be more likely to give away as much as possible!

3. Out-of-site

Hide the candy somewhere else in the house, not the kitchen. I put it in a dresser drawer in my spare bedroom. It's best kept unopened in a room you don't frequent & out of sight in a closet or drawer; out-of-sight, out-of-mind.

Controlling the environment is a crucial strategy to help control behavior. When it's out of site, it's less likely to create temptation because it only takes one piece to create the stimulation to drive continued consumption, my podcast episode 12 explains Why You Can't Stop Eating, and episode 16 reveals more about the Scary Truth About Sugar & Sweeteners.

4. Get rid of left-over candy

Throw it away or give it away. Take it to the office, give it to the neighbors, or any other service-based business you frequent, hair stylist or nail salon. Either way, if you keep it, you'll eat it & you'll be the one to suffer.

5. Your kid's candy